A DOG called Lycka has been saved with urgent heart surgery after internet fundraising – but by veterinary surgeons, not ones for humans, as animal charity SPA had claimed.
The charity put out an appeal for help after Lycka, a nine-month-old Labrador recently adopted by a family from the SPA refuge in Vaux-le-Pénil, Seine-et-Marne, was diagnosed with an “extremely rare and serious” heart condition likely to be fatal if not treated.
It said doctors ‘for humans’ would be needed for the state-of-the-art surgery said to be required – and asked for donations, saying the adoptive family could not afford to pay. The news was quickly spread on the internet, with a Facebook page, YouTube videos etc.
Surgeons have now reportedly operated successfully and waived their fee, although the €3,000 raised were more than enough to cover other remaining costs for pre and post-operative care, hiring the operating theatre etc (the charity also made a donation towards the costs). If money is left it will be used to care for other needy animals, the SPA said.
However it added in a statement: “We’d like to publically apologise for the misunderstanding in our original press release. Sources very close to Lycka had explained to us that he would be operated on by doctors ‘for humans’. In any case, what’s important is that Lycka should live.”
The operation, originally planned for December 20, has been done more quickly than expected and the SPA said Lycka “gave a joyful welcome to his master during a moving reunion” after the operation, and then “had the pleasure of discovering snow for the first time”.
Image from YouTube video by DUBM20A
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