Friend needs money to get dog back to UK - any ideas?

Right. I know I haven't been here long, and I know this post is going to sound really cheeky. But I need the people of Dogsey to help me and think of ways to help.

A very close family friend of ours recently has split up with her partner. All sounds, yes a shame, happens all the time, but it gets a tad more complicated than that. I'll call her A. Sorry if it sounds vague & confusing, but don't know how much info is allowed to come out.

They moved to Oz around two years ago as a family, with 3 kids & husband who I will call D. Everything was going great, A had been working as a nurse for nearly 30 years, had a close family knit and quickly made friends with B and C out in Oz. D worked with E and E became obsessed with D. To cut to the chase, D split up from A and had an affair with E. A quickly became very depressed, and borderline suicidal. Due to this she was put on perscribed meds. A also found out that D had stole thousands of pounds from her. He is now currently refusing to pay any bills and due to law (which admittedly I dont know much about) A is risking homelessness, despite having 3 kids and D is refusing to support them, or acknowledge their needs. Mid life crisis does not cut it. I know this bit you are probably thinking why the hell are you telling me this random womens life story, but I'll cut to the chase.

In this time, B and C mentioned a local no kill rescue as they were aware of a starved & neglected lab x shar pie x ridgeback who I will call M was looking for a home who they knew if they weren't a no kill shelter who would risk being pts. A went to the rescue with the view of helping out and walking her before work in a bid to give her a reason to get about the house but A soon fell in love with M and felt she couldn't leave her. Despite her difficulties M's needs were always prioritized, to the point where A would worry about the financial impact of routine grocery shopping, but her kids loved her. A and M became very close, A insisted that M didnt even seem to be need to be trained, she fitted in with her day to day life and was naturally well behaved, they slept in bed together and on the furniture and was generally an angel.

Due to the split and divorce and visas that I dont know enough about, A was forced to leave M with some close friends for almost a year as she couldn't afford to bring M over. It was bad, but A had safe in the knowledge that M was being well looked after and she misses M every day. Even if I talk about betsy, I notice she becomes tearful and wrecked with guilt.

Now I believe everything happens for a reason, and that the people of dogsey won't judge and will listen and try to help, I have reassured her. Now she recieved a letter the other day that her friends have had a change in circumstances and can no longer look after M, but can "hold on" to her for almost a year.

She wants to get M back to the UK, but feels it would be impossible due to her financial situation to get her over here. At the same time she cant bear for anyone else to have her, or to give her back to the shelter as she feels M has helped her so much, she has saved her life. Last night she was in tears as M gave her a reason to get out of bed in the morning and not just take the route of going to sleep and not waking up. Accomadation isnt much of an issue, she is staying with my parents who would be happy to have her there for as long as it takes. Its just raising the funds to get M over here. I have no doubt that A is a fantastic dog owner and only wants the best for M.

So I promised her I would post to see if there are any ideas? I understand if no one wants to get involved, as I realise the details are very vague and I know people probably think it looks a bit dodgy. But anyone who can think of any idea, no matter how ridiculous, we would appreciate.

Thanks for reading

Has the person any skills like cake making or jewellery making or card making maybe that family and friends might be willing to purchase not sure how long it would take to raise money this way.

They might be able to look into craft fairs also if they have a talent in any of these crafts there will be lots of fairs around this time of year.

Sorry can't be of much help I hope she finds a way to bring M over.

Lynn. Thats a fab idea and we are investigating something similar. I just know how much M means to A and want to try and do everything we can to make M coming to england a possibility.

Please don't worry. The fact that you have replied we appreciate so much.

Let me know how things go please. Everything crossed here.

I definatley will. I was thinking of setting up a justgiving page but not sure how to go about it without it looking dodgy or pushy. I am thinking about getting the word out through betsy's channel as I know that will hit at least a couple of thousand people that way. I am also planning to share her story with our local dog training clubs and try to think of some other fundraising ideas, but always open to suggestions!

Does A have a figure of what it will cost to transport the dog from Australia to here?

I find that once you have an amount getting it becomes all the more easy as you have a goal to reach.

I agree with Lynn, what can she do, what is she good at and what can she sell?

If she gets a stall at car boot sales she can put a picture of the dog ( sorry , can't remember which letter of the alphabet the dog is ) on the stall with a brief outline of why she is there selling stuff.

Good luck!

We have figured it could run into the region of £4000 from her current research. However we have no idea where to look! We are also looking at running several small fundraiser with the aim to get to this goal, but as a web design student I am aware if we can get this viral online we could well have her home even quicker. But you are right, at least we have a year.

M stands for As dog

Have you looked at Flypets? You can find them on their website or on that other place that we're not allowed to mention. Call them up and ask them, until you have a figure you're running blind.

I don't know much about shipping pets to and from Oz, but I know now that for the US most airlines insist you use a specialist pet carrier company who handle all the vaccinations, vet checks and paperwork.

I have a friend who jsut moved back to the UK and she flew her dog back and it was into the thousands, it isn't cheap for a reason there is a risk involved.

Good Luck though and try some expats websites where people have moved back to the UK with pets etc.. nothing beats real life experiences.