A woman is desperately trying to raise money for her friend's dog who is in need of an operation to treat Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD).

Gill Evans, who is originally from Stoneclough but now lives in Swinton, set a GoFundMe crowdfunding appeal up to raise money for Louise Sothern’s three-year-old French bulldog Bonnie.

Gill's partner Mark Pilkington also runs the Grapes pub in Stoneclough as well as owning Mammoth Pressure Washing Services in the area too.

Bonnie was first diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) in July, and Louise has said that Bonnie is in constant agony even though she has been put on a series of medication.

IVDD is a condition that gradually causes discs to slip out of place, which can have devastating consequences.

The Bolton News:

Louise said: “It has been awful, and I have been in bits.

“I physically can’t watch her because it breaks my heart.

“I phoned the vets five times last Wednesday to end all the suffering and they didn’t answer the phone, so I feel like it was a sign to keep going.

“It would mean everything to raise this money.

“I know it’s me keeping hold of her and she’s suffering but she is my family and I want to do what I can.”

The type of IVDD that Bonnie has means that she would lose movement in all of her legs, with no chance of getting better.

Bonnie has already undergone the first part of the process where she had an MRI scan which confirmed her condition.

The next stage is for her to have the IVDD operation so she doesn’t have to put to sleep.

Gill said: “I want to raise as much awareness on this as possible.

“We didn’t know it was common in French bulldogs and we want to help other owners with them being able to see the path we have gone down, and the information we found out as well.

“Me and Louise were grateful for people who reached out who had been through it and offered advice.

“We wouldn’t have been able to get the costing down without their tips.

“Someone said to us that they wished they had known about it because their dog died from it.

“Her episodes are getting a lot worse.

“If she gets the operation in time, she will be able to walk again and not be paralysed and get back to her exciting little self.”

Gill also explained that they didn’t realise that people need to have insurance that specifically covers the costs of this disease.

To help Bonnie have the life-saving surgery click here (www.gofundme.com/f/jyz7ux-save-bonnies-life).

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.