Can you help dog Nettie walk down the aisle?

Claire and Mel Dixon, from Donwell, Washington, planned to renew their vows this summer along with ring-bearing rescue dogs Oscar and Nettie, who will accompany them down the aisle.

The pair, who first tied the knot in 2006, are planning to renew their vows on June 24 at Springwell Methodist Church, Gateshead, with Nettie and tri-colour collie cross Swiss mountain dog Oscar.

But the couple have been hit with a major vet bill after two-year-old lurcher cross Nettie was struck down with cranial cruciate ligament damage, which meant she had to undergo surgery on both her back knee joints at Wear Referrals in Stockton on April 29.

The £6,000 operation has left owners Claire, 53, and Mel, 51, struggling to find the funds to pay an excess of £2,500. Claire, a bookkeeper at HR Fabrications, said they have so far raised £340 and are hoping more people will donate.

She said: “It’s been an emotional roller coaster. Nettie is back home and will have her staples out on May 16.

“We have had to pay a deposit for the operation to go ahead which was all the money we had reserved for our renewal fund and we still have a shortfall of £2,500.

“Please can you find it in your hearts to donate so we can get Nettie on the road to recovery and she can join us on our special day and walk by our side down the aisle with our other dog Oscar.”

To donate please visit: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/mel-dixon?utm_id=2