At the age of three, Monty a chocolate brown Cocker Spaniel, faced a potentially mortal fate.

Monty was left only 48 hours after what is believed to be an altercation with another dog, in excruciatingly evident pain. An on call vet rushed to his aid late friday night, and said he must urgently be taken to Fitzpatrick referrals in Godalming, which was founded in 2005 by renowned professor Noel Fitzpatrick.

On arrival after immediate analysis, Monty was rushed into theater for critical decompression surgery, in an attempt to relieve pressure of his spine, from a shattered spinal disk. Fortunately, the surgery went well with Monty feeling no pain at all. The vets said it was uncertain if he would be able to regain any feeling in his back legs, however with regular hydro and physiotherapy after 12 weeks, the outcome would be clear. If there was no change he would be permanently be paralysed. Which happened to be the case.

In order for Monty to still get exercise he had to have assistance with someone holding his back legs up in a sling, meaning Monty could walk reliant on his front legs. This left an impending dilemma, regarding Monty’s ‘quality of life’. Unfortunately, it was looking like the end of the line, with the only apparent decision being to have Monty put down. However, the denial of losing Monty, especially at such a juvenile age, led to extensive research where the world of Dog mobility was discovered. Thankfully, DogMobile in Yorkshire provided an alternate solution which was to have them make custom wheels for Monty.

Monty is now almost ten and a half, living a perfectly happy and healthy life, getting around swiftly on his wheels, thoroughly enjoying the love and attention his wheels afford him. He remains a staple of family life, loved unconditionally not only by family but also Hurstpierpoint as a whole.