Community rallies to pay for hit-and-run dog's vet bills

KIND-hearted residents have raised more than £1000 to pay for a dog's vet bills after he was involved in a horror hit-and-run crash and had to have his leg amputated.

Hit-and-run victim Frank recovering from his injuries. Picture: contributed

Frank, a three-year-old collie-Staffordshire cross, was out for a walk with his owner, Graeme McKenzie, when a car hit him out of the blue in Cousland Road, Livingston.

Frank was left with a punctured lung, several wounds and a serious leg injury.

Mr McKenzie’s partner, Charlotte Jenkins, 23, said Frank had been walking behind him at the time.

The 26-year-old had heard a loud “thud” followed by a “yelp” before turning round to discover Frank lying on the pavement motionless.

Charlotte, who gave birth to a baby boy in January, said: “We were both absolutely heartbroken.

“When we got him to the vets, we were told it was touch and go. It was awful.

“He had a really low temperature and a punctured lung that kept filling up and having to be drained again.

“He then had to have his leg amputated.

“He’s like our baby – we were distraught and we started to worry about how we would pay for his vet bills.”

But the couple’s funding worries soon vanished when local residents spotted Frank’s story on social media, and rallied round to help the injured pooch just days after the accident on February 1.

Kirstyn Morier set up a JustGiving page with two other friends, Becca Logan and Cheryl McEwan, after realising Charlotte had just had a baby.

The trio managed to raise just over £1000 in a week after people from all over West 
Lothian started to donate.

Kirstyn said: “I just thought it was shocking what happened to Frank, it really broke my heart.

“I know Charlotte and Graeme through a mutual friend and after hearing they’d just had a new born baby, too, it was the least we could do.

“We are so thankful to everyone who has donated.”

Charlotte said Frank is continuing to improve day by day but his confidence has been knocked.

She said: “He is gradually getting better but he still seems a bit scared to go outside.

“I can’t believe the driver of the car didn’t even stop to see if he was OK. Even if he didn’t have money to help us pay for his treatment, an apology would have done.

“I’ve been shocked and so overwhelmed by the girls who are fundraising for him and I want to thank them and everyone who has donated.

“The girls know how tight it is just now because I’m on maternity leave.

“It’s so heartwarming.”

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