Help Dobby heal- Support my soul dog's recovery

Hi, my name is Verity, and I’m a student nurse living in Devon, hoping to fulfill my dream of becoming a registered nurse so I can care for those in need. Right now, I’m on a surgical placement, supporting patients through their pre- and post-operative care — juggling long, unpaid shifts, studies, and the emotional demands of training to be there for others. But today, I find myself needing support — not for me, but for my best friend and emotional rock, Dobby.

Dobby is a 3-year-old pug cross staffy with the biggest heart and a cheeky little spark that lights up every room. He’s been by my side through thick and thin, offering endless love and comfort through the stresses of life and the intense journey of becoming a nurse.

Last weekend, Dobby suddenly lost the use of his back legs. It was terrifying. He was quickly diagnosed with a ruptured disc in his spine and needed emergency surgery (a hemilaminectomy) to relieve pressure on his spinal cord. Thanks to the timely action from our local vets at Filham Park and the brilliant team at Bristol Vet Specialists, Dobby made it through surgery and is now on the long road to recovery.

Sadly, he’s been left with significant spinal cord bruising, which means he still can’t use his back legs. But with specialist physiotherapy, time, and love, there’s real hope that he’ll regain his mobility.

We’re incredibly fortunate that insurance may cover the surgery itself, but it doesn’t cover the ongoing physiotherapy and rehabilitation he desperately needs to recover. As a student working full-time hours on unpaid placement, I’m doing everything I can — but the financial strain of Dobby’s care is more than I can manage on my own.

That’s why I’m reaching out. If you’re able to donate anything at all — even just a few pounds — it would go directly toward helping Dobby heal. It means giving him the best chance to walk again, to run, to play, and to live a happy, pain-free life.

And if you’re not in a position to give, just sharing this page would mean the world to us.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for any support you can offer. It truly means everything.

With love and endless gratitude,

Verity & Dobby