A GREYHOUND facing leg amputation has had a campaign launched to help fund his £4,000 veterinary bills.

Eighteen-month-old Theo is being cared for at Skylor’s Animal Rescue, a family-run centre for dogs, after breaking his back-right leg during his first race.

Dawn Taylor, who founded the Dobbshill-based centre, said: “Theo is a lovely dog, very shy and that is mainly to do with his injury. He really is a trooper for battling through the pain it must cause.”

The hound’s original owner paid for the initial operation in early November to have his ankle operated on and pinned in place, but this was not successful.

Theo’s bone became infected and needed a six-week course of antibiotic treatment with another procedure to fuse the whole leg joint together being the only hope of saving the limb.

Dawn added: “We have been quoted £4,000 to pay for the operation on his leg. I’m sure once he has everything sorted he will be a much happier pooch on all four legs.

“We’ll be able to take him out for walks, which is something he has not been able to do since arriving here, so it really is a case of save the leg and save his life.”

“We would just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has donated so far and has been continuing to show us support. I know one lady has said she will be running a 5k event for Theo and taking her dog, who she adopted from us, along with her.”

A fundraising page has been set up online to help cover Theo’s vet bills and aftercare. At the time of writing, the page had raised more than £1,200.

If you would like to donate, and help save Theo’s leg from amputation, visit the JustGiving page https://bit.ly/2SIrsql