A STRAY dog was given a second chance by Knutsford vets after it was found fighting for its life following a traffic collision.

The unchipped Lurcher cross was brought into Knutsford Veterinary Surgery out-of-hours as a pet emergency on Friday, September 30 by a member of the public after being found badly injured by the side of Budworth Road in Pickmere.

She had severe injuries to her lower left leg which needed to be amputated. Poppy was also severely malnourished and riddled with fleas, whilst she also had signs of abuse with what are though tot be cigarette burns on her legs and body.

Vets at the Manchester Road surgery performed lifesaving treatment to save the dog, now named Poppy, and began an online campaign which found the six-year-old a new ‘forever home’.

“We can’t bear to see any animal in pain and struggling so we did whatever we could to give Poppy a second chance,” said Paul Adams, lead vet and owner of Knutsford Vets Surgery. “It’s not clear how long she had been suffering and the only possible treatment for her meant she had to lose her leg, but it was enough to give her a second chance at life.”

Paul and the team announced Poppy’s arrival on Facebook and asked their customers to find a suitable name for her.

They have since managed to find Poppy a suitable home with a retired couple in Sandbach and will monitor her progress through periodic visits to the surgery.

“We’re so happy the story has had a happy ending and we’re sure Poppy will now live carefree with her lovely new owners as we provide them with the support to reach full health,” said Paul. “Poppy had a very unfortunate start to her life, but without the help of this brilliant pet loving community that we have here in Cheshire things could have been much worse for her. We can now look forward to watching her thrive in her loving new home.”

Since her operation Poppy had been boarding in the veterinary hospital ward as she recovered and adjusted to life without her front left leg.

The vets clinic have set up a PayPal small donations to pay for Poppy’s treatment with the excess being used to help other stray and stricken animals in the area which do not have funding for treatment.

The PayPal account can be accessed via the surgery’s Facebook page at facebook.com/KnutsfordVets

For more information about Knutsford Vets visit knutsfordvetsurgery.co.uk or call 01565 337999.