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Owner's online appeal to raise cash for dog's heart bypass

A dog owner has launched an appeal to raise £2,300 to pay for heart treatment for the pet which is helping her deal with the death of her brother.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Apr 2016, 05:00 BST- 2 min read
Updated 9th Apr 2016, 13:51 BST
Linda Stubbs , with her beloved dog Dusty, who has been diagnosed with a heart murmur.Linda Stubbs , with her beloved dog Dusty, who has been diagnosed with a heart murmur.
Linda Stubbs , with her beloved dog Dusty, who has been diagnosed with a heart murmur.

Linda Stubbs was bought the shih tzu – and named him Dusty, the nickname of her brother Paul, 57, who died in June from lung cancer.

Her daughter gave her the pet in the hope he would help her deal with her grief and depression, but she has now been dealt a second blow after discovering he has a heart murmur, which means he may need a heart bypass operation.

Linda's brother Paul Stubbs, who died of cancer last June.Linda's brother Paul Stubbs, who died of cancer last June.
Linda's brother Paul Stubbs, who died of cancer last June.
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Linda, who also suffers from a series of health concerns, is campaigning to raise at least £2,300, the minimum amount she expects treatment to cost if vets say he needs the op, which is not covered by insurance.

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Donors have already seen the fund reach £380 within days of its launch.

The 54-year-old, of Orchid Gardens, The Nook in South Shields, said: “I’ve had a lot of trouble with really bad depression, and so my daughter got me the dog and I named him after my brother’s nickname.

“It was like therapy for me, but now I’m worried now that we’ve found out about this. It’s like I’m able to look after my brother through him.

Linda's brother Paul Stubbs, who died of cancer last June.Linda's brother Paul Stubbs, who died of cancer last June.
Linda's brother Paul Stubbs, who died of cancer last June.

“His illness was very short and it was such a shock.

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“Dusty’s a lively dog, he’s usually running around. But he could need this heart bypass.

“He’s seven months old and we’ve had him since he was a puppy.

“I took him to the PDSA vets and he had a scan and they found the murmur because a hole hasn’t closed up, and sometimes they can grow out of it, but they could see his heart beat was irregular.

Linda, who is mum to Holly Lee Rendall, 22, who bought her Dusty, Lisa Brown, 34, and Amanda Stubbs, 37, who has learning disabilities, moved to South Shields from her home town of Hartlepool.

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Dad-of-two Paul, who was a steward at Hartlepool United’s Victoria Park ground and was the partner of Janice Dunn, still lived in the town when he fell ill.

Linda’s online plea says: “He is an adorable puppy and he deserves a chance at life.
“His health will deteriorate fast without this operation.

“He has become my best friend, hope my friends can help as I don’t know what I’d do without him now.”

Donations to the appeal can be made via the Dusty’s heart bypass page at https://www.gofundme.com/v7whypph