Couple left with £23,000 vet invoice after cockapoo’s face ‘ripped aside’
A couple whose cockapoo was ‘ripped apart’ in a horror attack by an ‘off-lead dog’ have been left with a staggering £23,000 vet bill for life-saving treatment.
Lynn Holdom and Alan Bamford are now trying to re-mortgage their home to pay the sum – but will otherwise be forced to sell their property to keep Ruby alive.
The puppy was set upon by a Jack Russell cross in Sycamore Park, Kingsbury, Warwickshire, on April 27 while she was being walked by the couple’s daughter, Kayleigh.
The dog reportedly shook and bit Ruby, tearing out her stomach and fracturing her back.
Ms Holdom, 64, said: ‘It’s been absolutely horrendous. She’s literally been ripped apart.
Lynn Holdom and Alan Bamford (pictured) are now trying to re-mortgage their home to pay the vet bills
Ruby was set upon by a Jack Russell cross in Sycamore Park, Kingsbury, Warwickshire, on April 27 while she was being walked by the couple’s daughter, Kayleigh
The dog reportedly shook and bit Ruby, tearing out her stomach and fracturing her back
‘We walk that park every Saturday, there’s lots of children there, lots of dogs; there’s never been a problem.
‘She was walking round the edge of the park and all of a sudden this girl let go of the lead and this dog came running across and just tried to kill her, made Kayleigh’s hand all bleed.
‘I think he might have thought she was a rabbit or whatever – but he was in for the kill.
‘It literally ripped her intestines out, it fractured her back. Kayleigh was totally distressed she couldn’t get the dog off her and couldn’t get the dog off her own hand.’
Warwickshire Police confirmed that it is investigating allegations of an attack where a pet was ‘reportedly attacked by an off-lead dog’.
The dog that was involved in the attack is reportedly still ‘walking the streets’ leaving the couple wondering ‘who’s it going to attack next?’.
Ms Holdom and Mr Bamford refused the option to put down their 16-week-old puppy and instead Ruby underwent a major operation and was put in intensive care.
The 64-year-old continued: ‘Ruby’s tongue was hanging out, she was bleeding. She made it 55 minutes, bleeding, wrapped up, and still wagging her tail.’
‘After vets stabilised her, she underwent a major, overnight operation to ‘have everything sewn back in again.’
‘She is lucky to be alive.
‘The vet did phone and ask what do you want us to do, do you want us to put her down?
‘It broke our hearts. She’s so sweet, and we just couldn’t, we’ve got to give her the chance. You can’t just take a life off somebody who’s fought for her life like that.’
The couple were initially told that the vet bill would be £6,000 which increased to £12,000 when the vets explained that Ruby had also fractured her spine.
Every day, Ruby was in intensive care, it was costing Ms Holdom and Mr Bamford £300 to £400 in vet bills.
Ruby, who was a gift for Mr Bamford’s 75th birthday, was able to return home on May 7.
Warwickshire Police confirmed that it is investigating allegations of an attack where a pet was ‘reportedly attacked by an off-lead dog’
The couple were initially told that the vet bill would be £6,000 which increased to £12,000 when the vets explained that Ruby had also fractured her spine
Ms Holdom and Mr Bamford refused the option to put down their 16-week-old puppy and instead Ruby underwent a major operation and was put in intensive care
Ms Holdom said: ‘I think they’re aware we can’t keep paying this kind of money, you can’t just pick out £20,000, can you?
‘Yesterday, our bill had come to £23k. We don’t know how we’re going to do it.
‘But if she’s made it from the park to the vets, bleeding out, how could we not give her the chance? We said we’d sell the house.
‘I don’t know where we’d go, but we would sell the house to keep her alive. My husband and I, that’s our attitude, that’s a house, she’s a living thing.’
She stressed that, despite the huge charge, the vets had been ‘absolutely wonderful’, taking every measure to save Ruby’s life and sending regular photo and video updates along the way.
She said: ‘This dog is roaming the streets. who is it going to attack next? I can’t believe the justice in this country now.
‘If that was an XL Bully, they’d have been there and that dog would have been put down by now.
A statement from Warwickshire Police read: ‘We are currently investigating an alleged dog bite incident which took place in The Green, Kingsbury on April 27 between 4pm and 5.30pm during which a dog was reportedly attacked by an off-lead dog.
‘The owner’s hand was allegedly bitten while the dogs were being separated. Enquiries are ongoing.
‘If anyone has any information or footage that could assist with our investigation, contact us citing Incident 294 of April 27.’
The couple have started a GoFundMe to try and cover the cost of the vet bills.
