Fundraising push for puppy with deformed spine

Wings and Paws Rescue is fundraising for eight-week-old puppy, Matilda

An animal rescue centre is fundraising for an eight-week-old puppy born with a deformed and twisted spine.

Wings and Paws Rescue in Wolverhampton received a call from a vet asking them to take in a puppy called Matilda, whose owners could not afford the operation she needed.

Matilda has hemivertebra, a congenital condition that causes the vertebrae to be deformed, which has left her incontinent.

"The family were incredibly grateful we could step in, they really did do what was best for Matilda throughout the whole thing," volunteer Gemma Warner said.

Matilda also has a cherry eye - a prolapse of the third eyelid gland - which will require treatment

The centre is facing costs of up to £3,500 for Matilda's scans, tests and treatment.

"Her owners simply couldn't afford the operation and had no choice but to ask the vet to put her to sleep," Ms Warner said.

"Luckily the vets knew we'd help and called us instead."

Wings and Paws was reeling from the loss of another puppy, a 14-week-old called Darcy, when it got the call about Matilda.

Wings and Paws received devastating news about Darcy the day before they were asked to take in Matilda

Darcy, who had a condition called megaesophagus, an oesophageal disorder that left him unable to eat, was taken by Wings and Paws to a specialist vets in Bristol in the hope of saving him.

"Rescue work doesn't stop and allow you a breath, time to grieve or even gather yourself," Ms Warner said.

"Our hearts are still sore and Darcy's fosterer still broken, but how could we say no [to helping Matilda]?

"Maybe, just maybe, little Matilda can help mend [the bereaved] fosterer's broken heart."