PDSA client raises over £1,000 for local Pet Hospital in honour of poorly pup

15 August 2025

Dougie brought so much joy to his family’s life. Now, following his passing, his owner is making sure her beloved pet’s legacy lives on through her fundraising efforts.

Sarah Rose, Dougie’s owner, first noticed that something wasn’t right with her pet a few years after rescuing him. He had started having frightening episodes which caused sudden, uncontrollable movements in his back legs that meant he struggled to walk. It was discovered that he had a condition called paroxysmal dyskinesia, as well as bilateral hip dysplasia – which causes mobility issues as well as pain and discomfort in the hips.

The family had turned to PDSA after falling on hard times during the pandemic, so Dougie was being treated at Brighton PDSA Pet Hospital. Following his diagnosis, the vet team discussed Dougie’s options with Sarah – including what was available through PDSA’s charitable service and referral to a private orthopaedic (bone and muscle) specialist.

To start with, Dougie’s conditions were medically managed with anti-inflammatory medication – which would have been required for the rest of his life. “We needed to rely on PDSA due to the amount of medication that Dougie was on, there’s no way that I could afford to buy those tablets by myself,” Sarah explains.

Although Dougie was improving on the medication, he was still having trouble with his hips. Wanting to see if there were any advanced treatments or surgery that could further help her poorly pup, Sarah asked for Dougie to be referred to a private orthopaedic specialist. Unfortunately, specialist veterinary treatment can be costly, and in Dougie’s case, would have cost Sarah thousands of pounds.

Determined to get Dougie the procedure he needed, Sarah, and her friends and family, decided to fundraise for the treatment. To do this, they sold items at car boot sales, hosted tombolas and raffles, and started an online fundraiser. Amazingly, the group’s efforts had managed to raise approximately £2,300 towards Dougie’s surgery.

Sadly, it was at this time that Dougie’s health began to decline. His episodes had begun to worsen. While the orthopaedic specialist could operate to help his hips, there was nothing more that could be done for his dyskinesia. “I kind of knew it was futile,” Sarah says reflecting on the upsetting ordeal. “Suddenly, it became too much for him and he became very distressed over a week, and we had to make the heartbreaking decision to let him go.”

Although heartbroken to have said goodbye to her four-legged friend, Sarah still wanted to put the money raised for Dougie’s treatment to good use. To give back for the treatment Dougie had received, Sarah donated £1,200 to PDSA and shared the remaining amount between various other charities close to her heart.

“I can’t praise PDSA enough. I really can’t. They’ve been absolutely fantastic,” Sarah says. “Without PDSA, I would have had to put him to sleep way before he passed,” she continues. “Even through the pandemic, PDSA were just absolutely amazing. They were more than happy to see him. I can’t thank them enough, honestly.”

To honour Dougie’s memory, Sarah handed a cheque directly to the staff that helped Dougie at Brighton PDSA Pet Hospital. “It was amazing because it made me feel like Dougie had left something behind, that he could help other animals in distress,” Sarah says.

Although Dougie is no longer with us, and the initial donation has been made, Sarah and her sister, Alexia, have committed to continue fundraising in the form of ‘Dougie’s Legacy’ to help not just PDSA but other animal charities in need of support as well.

“It really made me feel good, being able to give something back,” Sarah explains. “That’s why we want to carry on trying to raise as much money as we can and keep donating in Dougie’s name to keep his memory alive. We will definitely be donating to PDSA again.”

It’s thanks to supporters like Sarah Rose that we’re able to treat more sick and injured pets like Dougie. Learn more about fundraising for PDSA via our website.