A veterinary nurse rang the out of hours emergency line of Holly Hedge very worried about a sweet natured Saluki female who was brought in by her owners with a serious leg injury. She was in severe pain and urgently needed surgery, but the owners couldn't afford the cost and stated she would have to be put to sleep. The vet wanted them to have time to think about it so a splint was put on her leg to stop it from getting any worse, strong pain killers administered and Ellie was sent home for the owners to think about her future. The caring nurse wanted to know if Holly Hedge would take her if the decision was to put her to sleep, and the owners gave their permission for her to be signed over to us. She explained that the operation could cost anything between £1,500 and £2,500, a huge ask but she needn't have worried, we were more than willing to give this poor young girl the chance of a future and ensure she had the medical help she urgently needed.

Luckily the owners signed her over to Holly Hedge and she was taken straight to our vets who X-rayed her, showing her bone had snapped and needed a plate and screws to hold it back together, and she needed to be hospitalised to prevent further damage. Poor Ellie would need a very intricate operation! As there was no orthopaedic vet available at that time at the practice, we spoke to a local highly renowned orthopaedic vet who agreed to fit Ellie in quickly after looking at her X-rays. In the meantime we had to find a foster home to care for her whilst she recovered from her operation. The power of Facebook worked its magic yet again, and a lovely couple who had adopted Barney a Saluki from Holly Hedge a year ago, came to her rescue - and as far as we were concerned were the perfect foster home for this sweet, fragile little dog.

David Holmes operated on Ellie two days later, and did a wonderful job of putting her broken bones back together again and we cannot thank him enough. She stayed at the hospital overnight and was collected the following day by her foster carers. This adorable brave girl would need cage rest for 6 weeks for her leg to heal properly and numerous follow up visits, but this wasn't a problem for Allison and Geoff, who will continue to tell the story of Ellie's journey to recovery. Thank you both for all the love and devotion lavished upon her, making Ellie the happy and contented dog she is today and for giving her a best friend to share the good times with. As you might have guessed, this lucky girl won't be needing a new home, her forever home is right where she is!

Ellie wanted to say something too, so here it is (with a little help from her mum & dad!)

Hi, my name is Ellie and I'm a fifteen month old Saluki. When Holly Hedge heard about me I had a broken leg and needed a very big operation. Before I had my surgery my new mum and dad saw a post about me on the internets about me, and how I will need a foster home to recover in. I don't know what the internets is exactly but it seems like there are lots of lovely people on it. They had already adopted Barney from Holly Hedge and hes a Saluki too so they knew what they were getting into when they offered to care for me whilst my leg healed. I knew as soon as I got here that I wanted to stay here forever, so I did everything I could to make them fall in love with me.

I have been told I'm big and strong because I had to visit two vets! I needed a very special surgery and now I have a metal plate in my leg. At one point the humans had to take me back every other day, I got pressure sores from lying down so had to have my dressings changed frequently, but everyone kept saying how it was all going to be okay, so I was very brave even though I was scared. When I went to my new house I had to stay in a crate for several weeks to stop me damaging the leg again and I destroyed lots of duvets and blankets because I was fed up of being stuck inside, even before the pandemic or whatever its called! I had lots of toys but I'm practically still a puppy! Don't they realise I have lots of energy to burn off?

I don't like being left alone and although there's nearly always someone here, the odd occasion I've been alone for a second I have had a couple of accidents but I'm getting better. I don't like loud bangs or raised voices so its lucky there's no rugby on the TV as apparently Dad gets very excited about it. Mum and dad are helping me to not be scared of every noise and teaching me how to walk on the lead. I like to help around in the house, my favourite job is announcing when someone is at the door by shouting at them loudly. Mum works a couple of nights a week and when she comes home in the morning I wake the whole house up and probably the neighbours too!

When I first met Barney I was a bit scared of him because hes bigger than me, and because I was frightened I growled and bared my teeth at him, but he was gentle and now I think hes the best big brother anyone could have. We cuddle and sleep together lots, because hes always stealing the bed I'm sleeping on! Our new mum and dad say we are a funny pair, I'm definitely the baby of the family and need lots of reassurance when I first got here they would take turns sleeping downstairs next to me so I was never scared. Now I go out in their big garden to exercise my leg but sometimes I get a bit too excited so I'm only allowed short calm play sessions. I know Mum and Dad are just being careful because it will take a while for my leg to heal properly so I have a long and happy life. The best news is I get to stay right here, this is my forever home!

Dad says HH are having a really difficult time of it so if anybody reading this can help them towards my vet bills please donate whatever you can, it will make a huge difference. I know I am very lucky and think every animal deserves this second chance Ive had, so please do help them if you can.

Thank you all for caring about me and dogs like me,

Ellie xx

Once any animal is the responsibility of Holly Hedge, we will always do everything in our power to give our rescues the best chance of any veterinary treatment necessary to make them pain free and whole again, irrespective of the cost, and as long as they are assured of a good quality of life. Our veterinary costs are testament to this as it is our pledge to put them back together again. Of course we would struggle terribly to uphold our promise were it not for the kindness and generosity of our dear friends and supporters, who too are our rescues lifeline. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for being instrumental in ensuring a brighter future for so many who would otherwise not have been given that chance.

Cost of Ellie's veterinary treatment:-

X-rays, pain relief, dressings and 4 nights hospitalisation £ 886.98

Operation to fix her broken bones + 1 night hospitalisation, pain relief, dressings and 6 weeks aftercare : £1,200.00