Abandoned Hartlepool pup on road to recovery thanks to generous public

Heidi the Westie was riddled with infection when she was taken in by Karen Young, who started a GoFundMe fundraising page to fund her vital ear surgery.

Karen, 48, from Low Fell, Gateshead, added to her small troop of three Westies last November, after responding to an advert by Stray Aid of an abandoned Westie found wandering alone in the cold and wet in Hartlepool.

After already overcoming severe Demodex Mange and a nasty yeast infection, the Young family were told that 18-month-old Heidi also had a major ear infection which required both of her ear canals to be removed – a complex operation costing around £1,600.

To help with the costs, Karen set up a GoFundMe page, which is designed to provide a platform for people to organise their own campaign to raise money for personal causes and life events, inviting those in their community to support them. To date, Karen’s GoFundMe page has raised a total of £810 in just seven days.

Karen said, “We’re so grateful for all of the support that our friends, local community, and the amazing Westie Rescue UK have shown for our GoFundMe fundraising campaign. It really does mean the world to us - and to little Heidi.”

Heidi has already had her left ear canal removed and will have the same procedure on her right ear next month at Prince Bishops Vets in Leadgate.

“Heidi is on pain relief and antibiotics now but is well on the road to recovery. She’s not keen on the buster collar but is using it to torment the three other Westies, Molly, Oscar and Mungo, so she is definitely getting back to her normal playful self which is lovely to see,” said GoFundMe fundraiser Karen.

Kelsea Little, spokesperson for GoFundMe.com commented: “What Karen and her family have done for poor little Heidi is incredibly inspiring. It’s great to see the local community rally together in support of this great cause, and we wish Heidi a speedy recovery.”

To date, GoFundMe fundraisers have raised £1billion for a whole host of different causes from medical expenses, education costs, volunteer programmes, youth sports to funerals & memorials – even animals and pets.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Heidi at:https://www.gofundme.com/heidisearoperation