Pup has op on her good limb

A puppy went in to have an operation on one broken leg and came out unable to use two.

Pippin, a pedigree golden cocker spaniel, slipped on ice and broke a hind leg last Thursday.

Despite Cannock's Vets4Pets taking X-rays, discussing the operation with Pippin's owner and the pup going in with a bright fluorescent pink splint on her right hind leg, they operated on the healthy left hind leg by mistake on Saturday. The company confirmed that a mistake had been made and said it was reviewing procedures to make sure it never happened again.

The puppy's distraught owner, 56-year-old mother of three Sue Owens, said: "It never, ever crossed my mind that anything like this could happen.

"She was wearing a huge pink splint on the leg when she went in. You wonder how they could make such a mistake.

"It's heartbreaking to see Pippin in pain and to have that done to her at such a young age of 15 weeks.

"I hope it does not make her 'turn'.

She wants to greet people, wags her tail and is normally happy to see new people, but now she cries because it is causing her pain."

Mrs Owens, of Midland Road, Huntington, near Cannock, is a self-employed IT training consultant and has had to cancel two weeks' work tso she can stay home and take care of her injured pet.

She has owned dogs in the past including an Old English sheepdog for about 15 years and two King Charles cocker spaniels for 12 years.

Marco Ciotti, Vets4Pets spokesman, said: "Having carried out an investigation into the alleged circumstances I can confirm that a mistake was made, which both the practice vet and the company regret.

"Thankfully, Pippin's health was never in danger and she has suffered no lasting harm.

"The practice veterinary surgeon immediately took it upon herself to cover the costs of Pippin's medication and post-operative care personally and her owner is now being sent a written apology."

Mr Ciotti added: "Health and welfare of our patients are paramount and we have launched a review of procedures to ensure that this incident does not occur again."