Strangers save life of Mernda pooch hit in the face by a car
When a car shattered the face of a young Mernda family’s prized American Bulldog they were left with the devastating choice of putting her down or paying $15,000.
North
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The owners of an American Bulldog whose life hung in the balance after taking the full force of a car crash to the face say they are “beyond grateful” to the public for donating thousands to their pet’s recovery.
Mernda woman Brooke Collins said the family faced the “extremely hard” decision of asking for public donations after their four-year-old pooch Tash was hit by a car on Masons Rd on August 20, leaving her young family with a $15,000 vet bill.
The bill included the cost of surgery, medication and pre and post surgery care.
“Both my partner and I are not people to ask for help,” she said.
“You don’t want to put other people out for your own burden so it was extremely difficult to reach out.”
Vets found the force of the crash had broken Tash’s top jaw and pushed it into her nasal cavity, obstructing her airway, Ms Collins said.
As vets inserted a feeding tube into Tash’s neck to ensure she survived while they further assessed the severity of her injury the family created a gofundme page.
“There is nothing in the world we wouldn’t do to save our girl, but unfortunately we are struggling to do it alone,” Ms Collins wrote.
Within 24 hours of starting the page more than $3000 had been donated by family, friends and strangers.
Two days after the horrendous accident the family had raised enough funds to proceed with the lifesaving surgery.
“Tash has had three top teeth removed and her jaw removed from her nasal cavity and wired back into place,” Ms Collins said.
“She is expected to be in ICU for a further four to five days.”
Ms Collins said the family intended to “repay the favour” when they were in a better financial situation.