An animal lover is hoping to raise thousands of pounds so TV vet Noel Fitzpatrick can save a puppy that was left for dead by the River Medway.

The pup, named Coco, was found by Medway Council trapped in a fishing net. She was taken to KareBear Kennels in Gillingham, where Georgia Ewart from Walderslade heard of her awful plight.

The 25-year-old said: “My friend who owns the kennel messaged me to tell me that Coco had come in and how uncanny it was that she looked so similar to my other dog Rolo.”

“I went to see her with my fiancé and I cried my eyes out. She was so skinny and it broke my heart to see such a lovely animal suffering.”

Coco, who is an 18-month old greyhound cross, was found by the river covered in fox faeces, with both her back knees dislocated.

Her front legs are bowed inwards and her back knees can dislocate unexpectedly due to her condition leaving her limping and in pain, although she can run it is only for a few minutes before she is forced to rest.

WATCH:Appeal for Coco's life changing surgery

Coco has since became best friends with Georgia’s lurcher cross Rolo, and the pair are inseparable.

The sales manager said: “Rolo and Coco got on immediately and have been the greatest of friends ever since, Rolo even cleans her and they hold paws when they sleep.”

With little hope that she would survive it seemed that she was going to have to be put down, until Georgia volunteered to take her to specialist Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick , who has his own television show on Channel 4.

Miss Ewart said: “I knew that if Noel could see hope for her then we couldn’t give up, when he said he could fix her there was no way I was going to let her get put down.”

The total cost of the veterinary bills is expected to be around £12,000.

So far £560 has been raised and now the family from Princes Park are appealing for help from others to reach their final sum.

She added: “It is expensive surgery and we would love for people to help us save our Coco, You just can’t put a price on a life.”

If you would like to donate please visit www.gofundme.com/save-our-coco.