A retired couple in debt of £ 40,000 say they cannot afford to pay for their dog’s surgery.

Robert and Diane Moore, by Oakwood, say that the huge amount they owe is in part due to having to pay for their daughter Sarah’s funeral.

They bought a Doberman named Charlie in 2018 for around £ 2,000, along with a Callie, a rescue dog, for Sarah, shortly before she committed suicide.

Now Charlie has developed a benign tumor on his front leg, which could cost between £ 6,000 and £ 6,000 to remove.

Mr Moore, 65, said: “I felt pretty drained and lost my daughter, now I’m going to lose my dog.

“We obviously don’t want to get rid of the dog, because that’s all we have left to remember Sarah.

“But I don’t have £ 6,000 to pay for this dog’s paw.”

Charlie has now stopped eating because of the tumor, with Mr Moore saying he couldn’t afford pet insurance because of the costs associated with their daughter’s death.

Sarah, 27, committed suicide hours after being released from Radbourne unit in Littleover, despite repeated warnings that she was at risk of suicide.

His parents are calling for an investigation into his death, which could further increase costs.

Already paying off £ 13,000 in credit card debt, Sarah’s funeral cost £ 7,000 and if lawyers lose a clinical negligence case Robert and Diane will face a £ 20,000 bill that would force them to sell their house.

If they win, they will still have to pay legal disbursements such as court costs, and all damages will go to Sarah’s children.

Mr Moore recently contacted the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), but says he was told they couldn’t help because he was not receiving any form of allowance.

He also claims that another charity has told him he should have the dog slaughtered, which means he is reluctant to donate the dog.

Mr Moore lives on a small pension of around £ 600 a month, forcing him and Diane to try and raise money for Charlie to be treated.

He added: “I think it’s appalling.

“I’m supposed to have reached a point in my life where I’ve retired. I have never claimed benefits in my life and I never will. I am really ashamed to be British for the way we were treated.

“Me and Diane have been treated absolutely appalling, we’ve worked our entire lives and now I’m in debt of £ 40,000. “

While the PDSA said it does not comment on individual cases, a spokesperson said, “We know that caring for a sick or injured pet can have a huge financial impact on an owner and often is. an incredibly difficult position to occupy.

“The PDSA offers as much support as possible, but as a charity that does not receive funding from the government or the national lottery, we have put in place eligibility criteria to ensure that our limited resources are in place. able to help the most vulnerable animals in society.

“We understand how difficult it can be for homeowners who do not meet these requirements, and especially those facing the challenges of unprecedented circumstances.

“However, like all veterinarians, we will always treat an animal in need of life-saving emergency veterinary care, regardless of its eligibility.”

PDSA added that “vital emergency veterinary care” is defined as when a pet’s life is in immediate danger and it is certain or very likely that it would die within 24 hours without veterinary treatment. .