A much-loved dog who became a Greater Manchester lockdown hero has prompted a huge fundraising effort after she began losing her sight. Hattie, a 12-year-old cocker spaniel, won the Manchester Evening News Lockdown Dog Hero competition in 2020 after readers voted for her from a shortlist of 20 dogs.
She had accompanied her owner Andrew Bacon, now 62, to work every day during lockdown, where she helped put smiles on the faces of staff at the Lancastrian Office Centre at Old Trafford cricket ground.
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Six years on, Hattie has continued to bring joy to people through her Facebook page – Hattie ‘The Cocker Spaniel’ – where Andrew, from Stretford, shares her adventures with her thousands of followers.
Now, those followers are rallying around Hattie after she developed cataracts as a result of diabetes and began to lose her sight.
A fundraiser has been launched by family friend Lisa Davis to help pay for vet treatment that could improve her vision. Hattie has already been prescribed eye drops four times a day, and could face an operation costing £5,100 for one eye or £6,100 for both, according to the fundraising page.
The fundraiser has so far raised £3,670 of its £4,000 target – and owner Andrew says he has found the response “humbling”.
Andrew says people have been telling him they want to help Hattie because of the comfort she has brought them over the years.
“It’s really humbling,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “She has a huge following all over the world, not just here.
“People keep saying, ‘We’re going to help you, Hattie, because you helped us through lockdown.’ It’s so lovely. People have rallied round. It’s amazing, really. I just can’t believe it.”
During lockdown, Hattie became a familiar face to staff at Andrew’s workplace, helping deliver post around the building and even getting behind the wheel of the car park sweeper in her hi-vis jacket.
Andrew also created a Facebook page documenting her adventures, which has continued to grow since then. He has held Christmas evenings with Hattie online, which he says have become something people look forward to, particularly those who may otherwise feel lonely during the festive period.
“Even people who have lost their own dogs and haven’t been able to have another one because of the heartbreak have taken to Hattie,” Andrew said. “People who have their own dogs have kind of adopted Hattie as well.
“She brings such joy into people’s lives and I get so much pleasure from that. You can’t put it into words.”
Now, members of that online community are trying to give something back to this much-loved pup. Hattie was diagnosed with diabetes around 18 months ago after Andrew noticed she was drinking significantly more water and having accidents in the house.
Andrew said: “I came home from work and her water bowl was bone dry. I filled it up and she drank it again while I was there.
“She also started having a wee in the kitchen while I was out. She’d never done that before in her life.
“I took her to the vets and told them what was happening. They did blood tests and checks, and the results came back that she had diabetes.
“It was a bit of a shock. It has to be controlled with insulin, and there’s quite a long, time-consuming process to get the right dose, the right kind of insulin and the number of times each day that you have to administer it.
“I had to learn to give her the injections as well, which was a bit tricky, but I managed to get it under control.”
Andrew said Hattie’s diabetes has since settled down, but one of its effects has been the development of cataracts, meaning she’s now dealing with sight loss.
Andrew added: “She’s coping really well, but unfortunately the cataracts are causing quite a nasty condition in her eyes.
“We’ve been referred to an eye specialist…We’ve now got a routine with about four different types of drops.
“When we go back in two weeks, we’ll go through the possibilities of surgery to remove the cataracts.
Hattie is now on special food and needs regular insulin, with her ongoing care costing around £100 to £120 a month. Andrew says he was prepared to sell his motorbike to help cover the “very expensive” cost of the eye treatment, but says the funds raised will help significantly.
Andrew is also keen to raise awareness of diabetes in dogs, after learning how quickly the condition can develop.
He said: “Maybe a lot of people don’t realise their pets are diabetic and think they’re drinking water because they’re thirsty, or weeing in the kitchen for another reason.
“If people can be aware of that, it may save people’s pets’ lives. They don’t pass away early or be put to sleep because of organ failure.”
You can visit Hattie’s fundraiser via the link HERE.
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