*UPDATE - we are now kindly being assisted by Border Terrier Welfare UK and directly liaising with the lovely Vanessa Jessop* 

This is Benny, he turned 13 last week! In recent years, he has developed this funny little goose honk/cough - it’s like a hacking and usually happens when he’s been sleeping/resting or sometimes when he plays, but never on walks. He will usually be sleeping on the sofa, wake up and start coughing, jump down off the sofa and then do this sort of wretching noise once he’s finished coughing, as if he’s going to vomit, but never does. We have taken him to the vets in the past about this, they said to monitor and bring him in if it gets worse. Anyway, in recent weeks, it has, but now, when he jumps down and finishes coughing/wretching, he will then lose balance and fall over on his side, as if he is passing out/fainting - it’s very traumatic to see.

He has since seen the vets - she listened to his heart and lungs and they all sound normal, however they can't rule anything out without further investigation.

Our hearts have sank a bit as the vet has recommended a CT scan of the chest and throat, examination of the airway and to take a sample, arriving at a total cost of £1700. This would all be fine, as we would go through insurance - but to add insult to injury, as he’s had the cough for 4 years (this is apparent on his medical records) Tesco will not pay out for the claim as it will be seen as a pre-existing medical condition/symptom! This will be the second time our insurance has let us down, we are still paying off the debt from Benny’s previous Cruciate Ligament operation last year! We are feeling SO lost on what to do! We have since tried applying for another loan and credit card but have been rejected. Saving seems impossible in this day and age, with the cost of living increasing, my partners work no longer offering overtime and my own work reducing my salary due to redundancy risk, we just don't know who to ask - our vet doesn’t offer payment plans either!

On the advice of friends, colleagues and those of you in the lovely Border Terrier groups, we have set this fundraiser up. Never before have we considered creating a Gofundme, we never ask for help. Having looked through, it seems many people have set up similar fundraisers when their pet insurance fails them - I’ve also noticed people set them up for much less, which is really mind blowing. If anyone might be able to help us by donating even the smallest amount, it would help us massively, we'd be eternally grateful and indebted to you. We've suffered many financial shortfalls and nasty surprises of recent and for some this may seem like an insignificant amount, but with everything we've been through in terms of money as recent, it seems impossible!

Equally, there is no pressure to help, as we know all too well the struggles everyone is facing financially! We just love our little bear so much, we don't have children, so he really is our little baby.

Thank you for taking the time to read our Gofundme.

Love,

Benny and his very nervous mummy