Sudbury dog rescue Lurcher SOS launches urgent £7,000 appeal to cover medical treatments for five canines

An unprecedented influx of dogs in need of life-changing medical care has sparked an urgent fund-raising appeal by a Suffolk rescue organisation.

Lurcher SOS – a volunteer-led dog rescue based in Sudbury – is seeking help to raise £7,000 to pay the medical bills for five poorly canines.

Each of the dogs has recently come into the rescue home’s care, suffering from serious injuries, illnesses or impairments that all require further treatment.

More than 100 donations have been made to the appeal so far, to bring it within £2,000 of its goal.

Since Lurcher SOS was set up by Laurie Harkness in 2010, the organisation has helped to rescue and rehome almost 1,000 lurchers, greyhounds, salukis, whippets and other sighthounds.

Taylor Bennett, who began volunteering at Lurcher SOS four years ago, said the current situation, with several dogs in its care all needing urgent treatment, was unprecedented.

“I have never known a situation like it,” she said. “Our cash flow is not hugely high and these medical bills are ramping up.

“It’s all come on at once. When these dogs come into our care, we often don’t know much about them until they arrive.

“We know it’s a difficult financial climate for people to be donating to charity, so we are very touched that people have donated their hard-earned money to save these dogs’ lives.

“We’re really hoping we can continue that momentum. We know it’s a lot of money, so even if people can only spare £1, it all helps.”

The fund-raising appeal was initially to support four injured and ill dogs – Atlas, Bambi, Lenny and Sally – before a fifth, named Ted, had to be added after arriving at Lurcher SOS in recent days.

Atlas, who was found abandoned on a street in Ireland, requires an amputation to his right hind leg, which causes him constant pain after an old fracture did not heal properly.

Bambi, who arrived from a dog pound in Essex, must undergo an MRI scan to find the cause and treatment for her partial blindness, which causes her significant challenges.

In addition, Lenny needs further diagnostic tests to uncover what has caused his swollen front paw, which leaves him intermittently lame.

Sally, meanwhile, has been recommended for an operation to remove multiple unusual growths on her body, the seriousness of which is still to be determined.

And the most recent addition, Ted, was found to have chewed through his own tail due to anxiety, with the vet advising an amputation to alleviate his pain and prevent future harm.

To donate to the appeal, go online to gofund.me/7320cad2.

Taylor said Lurcher SOS was always on the lookout for new volunteers, fosterers and sponsors.

“The dogs come from all over – the UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Romania,” she said. “A lot of them are strays.

“We are based in Sudbury and we’re supported by monthly donations and funds that people pay when they adopt. It’s always a little bit uncertain, but it has been 15 years and we’re still going.”