A grandmother's desperate bid to save the life of her "beautiful" young dog has been met with overwhelming support.

Three-year-old shih tzu Boo Bear, from Chilham near Canterbury, is critically ill with bone marrow cancer and in urgent need of a blood transfusion.

But her adoring owners have already used up all her insurance money and maxed out credit cards on her treatment, following her diagnosis last month.

It left them desperately trying to raise £1,500 to cover a blood transfusion, in a last-ditch attempt to save her.

"She's only a baby," said Boo's owner, grandmother-of-six Alison Haywood. "She is the most adorable little girl – she's just lovely."

Boo was first taken to the vets on September 7, after she became lethargic and began losing weight.

She was rushed to a specialist veterinary hospital in Essex, where she was diagnosed with myelofibrosis – an rare type of bone marrow cancer that disrupts the production of blood cells and leads to severe anaemia.

Boo was given a blood transfusion to boost her critically-low red blood cell count, and had to stay at the vets for four days.

But Ms Haywood was alarmed when Boo's insurance pay-out of £6,000 was immediately eaten up by the expensive tests and treatment.

The grandmother has also spent more than £800 on a credit card for treatment and must wait until the New Year before she can receive any more insurance money for Boo.

Vets have now started Boo on a new medication – paid for by Ms Haywood's son – which has a 50/50 chance of saving her life.

But the treatment can take six weeks to take effect.

In the meantime, Boo's red blood cell count has plummeted dangerously low and she is thought to be in urgent need of another blood transfusion, so she can survive long enough to respond to her treatment.

But her heartbroken family were unable to cover the £1,000 cost of the transfusion, or source financial help from animal charities.

Ms Haywood launched a Gofundme page in a bid to save her beloved Boo.

"I just have to try everything I can," she said. "You can't not give it a chance.

"If Boo was 10 or something I'd think 'OK she's had a nice little life'. But she's only three. She's only a baby."

An article about Boo's story was published on KentOnline on Friday, and generous readers have since rushed to donate to the page, smashing through its £1,500 target.

More than £1,600 has so far been raised.

Thanks to the fundraising, Boo was able to undergo tests on Monday.

Expressing heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of generosity, Ms Haywood told donors: "I am awaiting a call from Boo Bears specialist to inform me of the next step. They will also confirm the total cost of the treatment."

Currently, Boo is at home, where she lives with Ms Haywood, two of her own puppies, Bingo and Smudge, and another dog named Teddy.

Ms Haywood says any unused funds donated to Boo's fundraiser will be given "to relevant animal charities to assist others in similar situations".

To donate, visit Boo Bear's Gofundme page.

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