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Whitstable family set up fundraiser for puppy from Greek island of Lesvos

Heartbreaking videos of a Greek street puppy hobbling in pain on a severely fractured leg have inspired a Whitstable family's bid to save the dog.

Little Fraggle, who has been surviving by eating beetles, appeared in videos filmed on the island of Lesvos.

The puppy was seen limping along a street on the island

Katherine May says when she saw the clips - posted by pal Tracie - she knew she had to bring the adorable pooch home, despite being a "cat person".

But the vet fees are "impossible" for Katherine to afford, so she is trying to raise £5,000 to fund an operation.

Six-month-old Fraggle - named by Katherine's son Bertie after television show Fraggle Rock - had been knocked down by a car. The local police chief had improvised a splint on her leg.

Despite being "gentle and affectionate", the poor dog was clearly in pain.

Fraggle is in desperate need of an operation. Picture: Katherine May
Fraggle is in desperate need of an operation. Picture: Katherine May

Katherine, 42, said: "Winter was coming and my friend didn't think she would survive. I couldn't bare to think about her going off and dying."

Tracie managed to catch the canine and drove her to meet a couple called Adam and Eva, who look after stray dogs on the island.

When they took her to the vet, their worst fears were confirmed. The fracture in her leg had now partially healed and the bone was positioned in the wrong place.

But there was no orthopaedic surgeon on Lesvos and the nearest one was on the Greek mainland - a day's journey.

When vets removed brave Fraggle's painful splint she was "transformed" - hopping around on three legs.

"I guess naively I didn't know the consequences of her leg," Katherine said.

Katherine said the vet fees are "impossible" to afford. Picture: Katherine May
Katherine said the vet fees are "impossible" to afford. Picture: Katherine May

"Rather than send her to [mainland Greece] to have an operation, we thought it would be best to get her home and look after her. She is going to become our family dog."

A UK charity will be taking Fraggle home this Saturday - flying from Greece to Brussels and then catching the Eurostar.

"It is a big operation to evacuate her. She has managed to hitch a ride with other street dogs," Katherine added.

Katherine's family will meet Fraggle for the first time and welcome her to her new home.

A vet in Kent has estimated the cost of the operation to fix her leg will cost about £5,000. But the alternative will be an amputation which will cost £1,500.

Fraggle's fractured leg (on the left). Picture: Katherine May
Fraggle's fractured leg (on the left). Picture: Katherine May

Vets bills, travel costs and accommodation have been paid by Katherine so far, but she admits she has "bitten off far more than we can chew" and says the vet fees are "impossible".

She has created a Go Fund Me page to raise money for the operation and has collected more than £1,200 within less than a day.

"We live in Whitstable, and can't wait to take her for walks along the beach and for a paddle in the sea," she wrote on the fundraising page.

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable

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