A cash-strapped animal rescue has just four days to raise £6,000 so a chihuahua left paralysed after he was overfed by owners can receive life-saving surgery.

Six-year-old Button Moon was found paralysed and hiding under a car in Chartham Hatch, just outside Canterbury , last September.

The stray was taken on by Chartham -based animal charity Flori's Friends Rescue, when he was found to have no microchip and wasn't claimed by an owner.

A CT scan soon revealed he had a herniated disc, and Button Moon was given urgent spinal surgery.

Founder Natalia George said: "He recovered completely - he ran around like a normal dog."

In January, a new home was found for Button Moon, but sadly it was far from a happy ending for the little dog.

"Unfortunately they didn't listen to our advice," said Miss George, 29. "Button Moon needed to stay slim and exercised, and sadly has gotten fat and immobile.

"They overfed him so much his spine has now collapsed, and they've handed him back to rescue because they don't want to pay the bills."

Button Moon has been scheduled for an emergency appointment at the Royal Veterinary College on Sunday, when he will be given a CT scan and urgent surgery by a spinal specialist.

But cash-strapped Flori's Friends Rescue has just days to find the £6,000 needed to foot the bill.

Miss George says that every minute counts for the "very cute" chihuahua.

"The longer we wait the worse the spine collapses, and he will become completely disabled," she said.

"The worse he will get, and the chance of him recovering will get slimmer.

"Whereas at the moment, if we get it done by the weekend, they think he'll make a full recovery and be ready to adopt out to a new home again with no future health issues.

"This operation is going to save his life."

The fundraiser, launched just yesterday, has already raised about £1,600.

"The referral has already been made but we may have to cancel it if we cannot make the fundraiser total," said Miss George.

"We actually do not have the cash spare for him and have no idea what we are going to do if we can't raise it by the weekend as the Royal Veterinary College do not take payment plans.

"This poor chap has not only lost the only home he knows but is also facing a recovery journey in a rescue.

"We have never had a fundraiser more urgent than this," she added.

"Every penny will help save Button Moon. We do not have long."

To donate, visit the appeal's Justgiving page

For more information about Flori's Friends Rescue, visit the charity's website.

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

Read more: All the latest news from Canterbury