by Jenni Horn

Fidget the cocker spaniel was just days from death when a kind-hearted vet stepped into save his life.

The dog's owners Karen and Peter Bell thought they would have to say goodbye to their beloved pet when they couldn't afford to pay for an expensive heart operation.

But as Fidget's condition rapidly deteriorated, vet Glenn Everett at Companion Care in Chatham offered to carry out the surgery.

Six-month-old Fidget was diagnosed with a serious heart condition after collapsing at home. Karen and Peter, of Charter Street, Chatham, were told he didn't have long to live.

They were told Fidget's only chance of survival was an operation at a specialist vet in Surrey which would cost £4,000.

Karen said: "The insurance company wouldn't pay for the operation because Fidget was diagnosed with a heart murmur within 10 days of us taking out the policy.

"We tried charities and they couldn't help us so we started to fundraise ourselves. We handed out flyers and set up a Facebook group.

When Karen and Peter had all but given up hope, their own vet Glenn Everett offered to do the surgery.

Karen, 43, said: "He told us it was a big risk because it was a delicate operation and he had only carried out the procedure once before. But we were left with no other option."

After a four-hour operation and a week recovering, Fidget is almost back to his old self.

Karen and Peter took him back to see Glenn and the rest of the staff at Companion Care in Maidstone Road this week.

Karen added: "Whatever we say to Glenn it is never going to be enough. All the staff have been amazing."