Help to mend a broken heart.

The little lady in the photo is Frankie and this is her story.

I am Frankie. I am a 11 week old miniature Dachshund puppy. And I live with my new family in Livingston.

My family adopted me as an assistance dog for some of the family who have days where they suffer from anxiety, they did their reseach and found out that dogs are good for dealing with anxiety and stress.

My family found me through a KC Registered Breeder and fell in love with me straight away. They agreed that I would come Vet Checked and Microchipped and that my breeder would activate the 5 weeks free Insurance from the Kennel Club.

My family have Insurance for me but as is standard for most policies it won't cover any issues in the first 28 days I am with my new family.

I loved being with them the very second I came through the door. I have 2 big brothers and a big sister who play with me all the time, and take me for walks around the parks in Livingston and for my favourite Puppacino. And I had a new best friend in the family cat Simba. He was so kind to me.

Last week we had bad news. Simba was in an accident and won't be coming home. He was brilliant and was showing me how to calm someone with anxiety and stress. And how just being there could help.

Simba won't be coming home again. So now I have to be the best assistance dog I can. But the bad news didn't stop with Simba.

The next day my family took me to the vets for my second vet check, where the vet was really worried that I had a Heart Murmur.

She sent me to the hospital who have said I have a Broken Heart. I thought she meant because of Simba. But she actually meant I have a Grade 5 out of 6 Heart Murmur and now need surgery if I am going to live.

My family contacted the breeder to alert them and to get the details for the insurance policy that would have paid for my surgery from the Kennel Club.

But my Breeder hasn't done what she should have. She hasnt activated my insurance policy with the Kennel Club and is refusing to accept any blame for her not doing things properly.

It also appears that the vet that she had microchip me and my puppy brothers and sisters wasn't a very good vet as the Hospital have said there was no way he could have missed my Heart murmur. My family actually wonder whether he was a Vet at all.

My breeder is now not talking to my family and is refusing to help.

The hospital have said I need surgery to fix my broken heart.

The surgery can be done through my chest costing nearly £3000. Or through an artery in my leg which costs nearly £6000.

My family are asking you to consider helping fix my broken heart. As they can't face losing Simba and me in such a short time.

My family have said they will keep pursuing the breeder through the Kennel Club and will look to recover the costs of the operation. And if they do they will donate that money to the Small Animals Hospital at the Bush Estate in Midlothian where I am having my operation, or somewhere similar if they dont accept donations, to "pay it forward" for any other animals who need help.

So someone else who really needs your help can also be saved too.

I will never get insurance now for my heart problem. But my family have told me they will never have me put to sleep while there's a chance I can live a normal, happy life after surgery.

Thank you for any donations you make.