Donation request: Vet bills after fatal dog attack

Two weeks ago I lost my lovely dog Rudy to a dog attack. She was six years old and very, very loved, by myself, my family and everyone who knew and cared for her. Having not been able to find the other dog owner, I'm hoping that I can use this platform to pay off some of the vet bills I've been left with.

The attack happened just outside my home, I live in an estate on the edge of Peckham Rye. I was coming home after walking Rudy in the morning when I noticed a Pit Bull/XL Bully had started to follow us. The dog was being exercised in a small green space just next to my house, which has a fence. It's common for people to bring anti-social dogs here to exercise away from other dogs. The owner wasn't near his dog, she was off the lead and without a muzzle. Seeing her follow us, her owner called her, but she wouldn't come. I was close to home so I thought the fence should probably keep them apart. Rudy was afraid of large dogs too, so she was pushing to get home.

Just as I turned the corner to get into my estate, I noticed the dog had gone ahead of us and had slipped out through a gap in the fence. I tried to come between them, but the other dog managed to slip past me, savagely attacking Rudy, getting hold of Rudy by her chest with a locked jaw, so we had to dig our fingers in the dog's mouth to try and pry it open.

When we managed to get the other dog off her, Rudy was so badly injured and covered in blood, that I picked her up and ran to the vets without thinking to get the other dog owners details. My housemate and I got her to the Neighbourhood Vets in Dulwich in about 10 minutes, she spent the day there, receiving and recovering from surgery to the wounds to her chest. Then I moved her to the 24 hour vets in Camberwell, where the vets were optimistic she would get better enough to have a surgery to either set or amputate her broken leg. Sadly, despite the excellent care she was given, she didn't get better, and she had a heart attack the following day. It was so awful, I wouldn't wish this experience on anyone.

At the time, when we thought Rudy was going to make it, I was facing vet bills of at least £7000, of which £2000 would have been covered by my insurance. I was prepared to pay it, and took out credit cards, but several people suggested crowdfunding might be a way to make it easier.

In the end, her vet bills came to £4200, of which £2200 isn't covered by her insurance. I wish I could make the owner of the other dog pay for this, but despite the police, myself and my neighbours all looking for him, there's been no sign. Since she died I've had friends and colleagues say they would like to contribute to help, for which I'm very grateful. They've also mentioned friends, dog lovers, who I don't know, but who would like to help just out of kindness and sympathy, which is amazing and why I've created this go fund me.

The support we've received since losing her is incredible, but then she was a very special dog and we miss her every day.