Rescue puppy with heart defect in race against time to complete 'bucket list'
A rescue puppy is facing a race against time to complete his bucket list due to a rare heart defect.
14-week-old Opie was rescued by the RSPCA after being found with 35 other dogs in cramped and unsuitable conditions in East Sussex.
He is the only one to have been found with a rare heart malfunction.
Luckily he is now in the care of RSPCA inspector Julie Parsons who is determined to give him the best life possible, for however long that might be.
Along with her teenage son, Julie has now come up with a 'puppy bucket list' of things for Opie to do.
Opie's bucket list:
Eat doggy ice cream
Walk in Epping forest
Walk on the South Downs to see the famous Jack and Jill windmills
Learn to swim
Enter a charity dog show
Go on a picnic
Climb a mountain
Play on Westward Ho! Beach
Sleep on Mummy’s bed
Julie said: “When Opie first came to us we knew something was wrong, he wasn’t like other puppies, he was very lethargic and generally disinterested in life - the opposite to how he should be.
"The drugs have really helped him and he is running around now and you wouldn’t know there was anything wrong with him, but I know this could all change in just one vet visit.
"He’s a lovely dog, we’ve all fallen in love with him so we just want him to experience what it is like to be a puppy and to give him the best life possible while we have him.”
So far, Opie has ticked off one thing on his list, by entering a dog show, where the lovable rescue won first and a second place.
He will hopefully be completing his other goals in the next couple of weeks.
RSPCA Brighton says that once Opie is big enough, there is a chance he could have an operation to help fix the problem with his heart. However it can cost in the region of £20,000.
The rescue charity is now fundraising to help Opie.