My name is Paige, and after being encouraged by so many kind people, I’m reaching out to ask for support for my friend and her family, who have just experienced something no one should ever have to go through.

Over the weekend, Lilly — their beloved dog — was violently attacked and killed by another dog. She was on her lead, being walked by my friend’s 13‑year‑old daughter, less than 200 metres from their front door. The man walking the Rottweiler that attacked Lilly did nothing to intervene. He allowed his dog to maul a much smaller dog in front of a terrified child.

Lilly suffered a broken spine and a punctured lung. She was left for dead. That 13‑year‑old girl had to scoop up her best friend, covered in blood, and run home for help while the adult responsible simply walked away.

My friend Danielle was out of the city at the time. She received the worst phone call of her life while on a train home — having to give consent to put Lilly to sleep, without even being able to say goodbye.

Of course, in an ideal world, insurance would cover something like this. But that isn’t the reality here. Right now, any support from the incredible community that has already helped identify the man responsible would mean the world.

Danielle has already had to borrow over £800 to cover the emergency vet bills — the kind of bills any of us would pay without hesitation to prevent further suffering and give our pets peace after such a horrific attack. Worrying about debt is the last thing she should be dealing with in the middle of this trauma.

My hope is not only to help clear that debt, but also to raise a little extra so Danielle and her family can create a small memorial garden for Lilly — a peaceful space with a plaque to honour her and remember the love she brought into their lives.

Any contribution, no matter the size, would help ease their burden during an unimaginably painful time.