A charity is calling for help to raise the £10,000 it needs to cover life-saving treatment for a puppy pulled from the wreckage of a fatal crash.

Dachshund Rosa was rescued from the footwell of a car involved in a horror smash on the A20 in Farningham on February 12, which claimed the life of a teenager and saw two other people taken to hospital.

Among them was the puppy's owner, who was left fighting for her life in an induced coma.

Ever since, Kent Wildlife Rescue Service, based on the Isle of Sheppey, has been caring for the one-year-old pup, who broke her back in the collision and had to have major surgery on her spine to survive.

The puppy was taken straight to an emergency vet where she was stabilised and monitored overnight.

The next day she was transferred by the charity's volunteers to one of its regular vet practices where a full assessment was carried out including X-rays and blood tests. It was discovered she had suffered a spinal compression or possible fracture and an MRI would be needed to confirm a diagnosis and put together a treatment plan.

But due to growing concerns for the dog's health, the charity decided it needed to act fast and took it upon itself to get her treated as soon as possible and without the necessary funds.

Volunteer Lorraine March said: "We decided specialist intervention was needed so we rang every specialist in the country to find a vet willing to help and accept delayed payment so the life-saving treatment could be done immediately.

"Luckily we found one, who also happened to be an orthopaedic specialist."

The charity took Rosa halfway across the country to receive the emergency treatment.

Lorraine said: "Emergency surgery was performed immediately during the night, using pins and surgical cement."

The op was successful and Rosa is recovering at the vet's hospital, where she will be in cage rest for the next 10 days.

Lorraine said: "The vet said Rosa is showing small improvements but she has a long road to rehabilitation."

Last weekend her 18-year-old owner, whose friend Darcy died in the collision, also underwent major surgery. Her condition was described as serious but stable.

Now the charity is appealing for help to pay for Rosa's treatment, which they have calculated has already reached more than £10,000, including the MRI and CT imaging, the operation to fix the spinal fracture and the stay in the specialist veterinary hospital.

Rosa will also require ongoing aftercare in the form of physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to help with her recovery.

Lorraine said: "This is where we need the help of our animal-loving community to raise funds for the treatment of this dog and to help it recover and be re-united with its owner when they regain consciousness.

"We would love to give the family some positivity to help during this dark period.

"We know this is a little bit different to our usual casualties of wildlife, but your donations will mean we can get the much-needed treatment for this dog which will mean so much to the owner and their family and give them hope and comfort during their recovery."

Kent Wildlife Rescue Service has set up a gofundme page for Rosa on its Facebook page. To donate click here.

The charity is on call between 7am and 7pm to rescue any animals requiring assistance.

It was called to the crash by Kent Fire and Rescue Service.