Shropshire animal rescue helping kitten born with no hips

Phoebe was born with no hips and extended legs

An animal rescue is fundraising to cover the vet bills of a kitten born with no hips.

The Severn Valley Rescue in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, said it was raising £3,000 to care for seven-month-old Phoebe.

Phoebe, who was also born with extended legs, was handed over to the Shropshire rescue when her former owner could not afford to cover her vet care.

The rescue said it believed it would cost £3,000 for X-rays, CT scans and orthopaedic specialist advice.

There would then be further costs if vets deemed she could have surgery, staff said.

Amanda Ball, the founder of Severn Valley Rescue, said: "We have recently taken in the sweetest little kitten after her owner could not afford to take her to the vet to get her treated.

"Phoebe was born with an extremely rare condition where she is missing her hip joints and her legs joints are hyper-extended - making it appear as though her back legs are on the wrong way round.

Severn Valley Rescue believes Phoebe's scans and X-rays will cost £3,000

"We are hoping to raise enough money to get the surgical team at Southwater Vets in Telford to X-ray, scan and operate; and, hopefully, get this beautiful little creature back on all four feet again."

Ms Ball stressed that Phoebe was not in any pain and the rescue would not consider putting her to sleep, but that staff did want to improve her quality of life.

The team at Southwater Vets said they had not seen a case like it, but Ms Ball said they were "determined to find a solution" and were "working incredibly hard to find a way forward".

"We are setting our first target at £3,000 and will increase it as we follow her journey - this could be a long process," she said.

She said the team hoped to "get Phoebe going full speed ahead."

Phoebe's previous owner could not afford to cover her vet care