A rescue dog has proved its not only cats that have nine lives by surviving being shot dozens of times and run over on major motorway.
Cola’s body was peppered with multiple pellet wounds during his tough start to life as a hunting dog in Cyprus.
After being abandoned the four-year-old pointer was rescued by Rebecca Vickers, 30, and Alex McGreal, 29, who flew him to the UK.
Cola survived being shot dozens of times before cheating death again when he was run over on major motorway. After being abandoned the four-year-old pointer was rescued by Rebecca Vickers, 30, and Alex McGreal, 29, who flew him to the UK.
But shortly arriving on UK soil he escaped from a cargo centre near Manchester Airport and was run over on the M56. He was taken to a vets for life changing surgery. A scan of his injuries is pictured
But shortly arriving on UK soil he escaped from a cargo centre near Manchester Airport and was run over on the M56.
He was rushed to Oakwood Veterinary Referrals in Hartford, Cheshire, suffering from large soft tissue wounds, a shattered front leg and other open wounds.
But after having a live-saving surgery he made a miraculous recovery and is now enjoying his new life in the UK.
Cola has proved that not only cats have nine lives. He is pictured during his recovery
Cola was minutes from death after being run over but was saved by a mystery motorist who risked his life by running onto the road and pulling him to safety
Vet Charlie Sale completed life-saving surgery on Cola which included putting a metal plate and pin in his leg. He said: ‘I was shocked when we did the initial x-ray. In every area of his body we x-rayed while assessing him, you could see a huge amount of shot pellets and we realised that he’d obviously experienced something awful back in Cyprus.
Civil servant Rebecca, of Nantwich, Cheshire said: ‘When we met Cola at a rescue centre in Cyprus, we instantly bonded with him. He was really friendly and he seemed to take to Alex, even though we were told he wasn’t very keen on men.
‘We were given Cola’s back story and discovered he’d been found tied to the fence of the rescue centre.
‘When the centre owner took him to the vets, he was X-rayed and his body was peppered with pellet shots.
‘They believe he may have been an unwanted gun dog who fled while being shot at.
‘We decided we wanted to give him a happy home and went through the process of adopting him and getting him flown over to the UK.’
Cola was minutes from death after being run over but was saved by a mystery motorist who risked his life by running onto the road and pulling him to safety.
After Cola escaped from the cargo centre, Rebecca and Alex searched for him for hours, enlisting the help of friends and family with word swiftly spreading on social media and reaching 77,000 people.
After Cola escaped from the cargo centre, Rebecca and Alex searched for him for hours, enlisting the help of friends and family with word swiftly spreading on social media and reaching 77,000 people
They laid food, used a thermal camera and even gained permission from air traffic control to fly a drone over the area in search of Cola, as well as having posters printed off
They laid food, used a thermal camera and even gained permission from air traffic control to fly a drone over the area in search of Cola, as well as having posters printed off.
They rushed to the vets after concerned people had posted on social media about the pup being run over.
Rebecca added: ‘When we got to the vets, Cola wasn’t in a great way and we were told he would either have to be put down or referred to a specialist.
‘We wanted to get him checked over by the specialist to see whether they thought Cola would recover with any real quality of life.
‘After everything we’d been through to get him here, we didn’t want to give up on him.’
Cola’s leg was completely shattered but vet Charlie Sale – a specialist in small animal surgery at Oakwood Veterinary Referrals in Hartford, Cheshire – carried out a life-saving three hour surgery inserted a plate and pin into his leg.
Cola now enjoys playing and walks with the pair’s other pointer, Ronnie
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons expert Charlie said: ‘I was shocked when we did the initial x-ray. In every area of his body we x-rayed while assessing him, you could see a huge amount of shot pellets and we realised that he’d obviously experienced something awful back in Cyprus.
‘He must have had a horrific time in his previous life, he even had shot pellets in his ear – I’ve never seen so much shot pellet coverage in my 28-year career.
‘And then to escape from the cargo centre and get hit on the M56 – he is so lucky to still be here.’
After 12 days of recuperation following his surgery, he made a full recovery.
He added: ‘My main focus was just to get him better.
‘Cola’s bones have healed really well and he is back to having a normal quality of life and has now been discharged from our care.
‘He’s such a lovely, happy and friendly dog, and so trusting, which you wouldn’t expect from a dog whose been shot.
‘It was a pleasure and a privilege to treat such a brave dog.
‘Every day I’m amazed by our patients and Cola added to that list.
‘My ethos is to get animals back to having a nice time with their families so it was nice to play a part in that.’
When Cola was run over he was saved by a mystery motorist. He is pictured having a cuddle with vet Charlie Sale
Pictured, Rebecca and Alex McGreal, their dogs and vet Charlie Sale, who completed life-saving surgery on Cola
Grateful to have Cola back safe and sound, Rebecca admitted she and fellow civil servant, Alex, slept on the floor with their poorly pup the night he came home and said they can’t thank the Oakwood staff enough.
The pooch now enjoys playing with the pair’s other pointer, Ronnie.
Rebecca said: ‘Charlie and all the staff at Oakwood were amazing, we can’t thank them enough.
‘Cola has made a fantastic recovery.
‘He’s getting on well with his basic training and loves our other pointer, Ronnie.
‘He’s doing really well in all aspects, considering he’s had such an eventful life in his four years.’