Help for Luna

Help Save Little Luna – Viciously Attacked in Broad Daylight

This fundraiser is on behalf of Leila, devoted owner of the beautiful, gentle, tennis ball obsessed Luna ❤️

A month ago today, Leila and her beloved dog Luna were walking peacefully down George Street in Brighton, on their way to meet a friend for lunch. It was a beautiful day and life felt good, but in an instant, that peace was shattered.

Out of nowhere, a 40kg bully cross breed dog ran out of a tattoo shop and viciously attacked 4kg Luna in the middle of the street. The dog locked its jaws around Luna as bystanders looked on in horror. Leila screamed for help. Eventually, the tattoo shop owner forced the dog to release Luna, and Leila was able to pick her up. Luna was critically injured and bleeding heavily.

Her internal organs were exposed. Her renal artery had been torn. The street looked like a crime scene.

A kind stranger rushed them to Coastway Vets nearby. Leila, cradling limp and lifeless Luna, held pressure on the wound, trying desperately to keep her dog alive.

At the vets, the team were horrified by the extent of Luna’s injuries:

• A large bite mark

• Exposed intestines

• A severed kidney floating in her abdomen

• Internal bleeding from the ruptured artery and crush injuries

Luna was rushed into emergency surgery to save her life. She was fitted with multiple drains, IV antibiotics, and strong painkillers. Half way through the vets rang Leila and said the damage was more extensive than first thought and did Leila want them to continue or let her go. Without hesitation Leila asked them to do whatever it took to keep Luna alive, because she knew that Luna’s fighting spirit would mean she would come back if she could.

It was touch and go. No one thought Luna would survive the night. The next day she not only woke up but she wagged her tail. Against all odds, Luna was fighting back. Her spirit and resilience stunned the vet team and gave Leila hope. Treatment continued, round the clock. On day 3 she deteriorated again as the threat of infection loomed over her (the 2 year old dog that attacked her had never been vaccinated it later transpired), a feeding tube had to be inserted to help Luna get nutrition as well as fluid as her tiny damaged body did all it could to recover.

Leila made every decision with only one thing in mind - she refused to accept that having gone out for a walk on Sunday, Luna wouldn’t be coming home. The vets were kind and gently updated on costs each day, which we were mounting, but Leila felt with Luna having fought so hard to beat the odds, she had to be given every chance no matter what.

Unfortunately, Leila’s pet insurance only covers £2,500 per condition and the current vet bill is now over £7,600 which may continue to rise with the cost of ongoing care.

Despite Leila reaching out, the owner of the attacking dog has refused all responsibility and will not contribute to the vet costs. They refused to give their contact details and insisted the bill was not their problem.

The dog in question should have been muzzled. The incident is now under investigation by the police and dog warden. It has been logged under the Dangerous Dogs Act, and the case number is available for witnesses willing to come forward.

We’re asking for help to cover Luna’s life-saving treatment. Even the smallest donation will make a difference and a share is just as valuable.

Leila is unbelievably grateful to Coastway Vets, Kemptown and the kind strangers who helped that day. Without them, Luna would not be here. She is still recovering, now living with just one kidney, and remains under the vets care.

We hope this community-powered platform can help ease some of the financial pressure, so Leila can focus fully on Luna’s recovery.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

With love,

Lynn (Luna’s dog walker) ❤️