£2k raised for Cody vet bills

Cody the collie, who was deliberately set alight at the weekend, could be back with her family within a week, the vet who is treating her told UTV.

^{WARNING: Users are warned they may find some of the pictures in the video report distressing.}

She was doused in flammable liquid before being burned alive in Maghaberry.

She is still fighting for her life but Lisburn vet Ian Moore says her condition is very much improved.

"She is starting to come around a bit; we are taking her out for walks and she seems quite happy to be outside," he told UTV.

"On Sunday when she arrived I think she was in shock. She has always been a good wee dog, never complained, never whined once, never tried to bite anyone, she has not been resentful of any treatment she's had.

"We are worrying now as to how much damage has been done by this flammable liquid and the burns," he explained.

"If there is damage to the underlying blood supply to the skin we would probably find that the skin will be damaged irreparably and will necrose and die. That's the point when we have to make some hard decisions about where we will go from there."

I've never seen a deliberate burning like this ever, so it was a total shock for us.

Vet Ian Moore

Mr Moore said they will continue to monitor her condition, but he is hopeful that Cody could return to the Agnew family at their Maghaberry Road home in the next few days.

People have expressed their support for the collie on Twitter and Facebook, and a fund set up to help pay vet bills has raised more than £2,300.

Belfast woman Tara Purdy, 21, is behind the fund-raising efforts.

Although she does not know Cody's owners, she told UTV she was touched by the story.

"I was absolutely horrified. I just think if someone could do that to an animal they could do that to a person and I really wanted to raise awareness as well to get whoever did it caught," said the 21-year-old.

I just thought I should really do it. I have a dog of my own and if something like that were to happen to my dog I would be absolutely heartbroken.

Tara Purdy

Owner Martin Agnew said he was overwhelmed by the response to the fund-raising page.

"I just can't believe it. To be honest, I never even thought about the vet bills.

"Obviously [Tara's] a dog owner and knows what's going to happen. It's such a selfless act, she's just brilliant."

Mr Agnew visited the family pet at the veterinary surgery on Tuesday. He said Cody was glad to see them.

"We are hopeful but it's going to be a long process; we just don't know how long it's going to take," he told UTV, adding that the attack has been hard on the whole family, especially his two young sons.

Ireland international rugby player Stephen Ferris, a friend of the owners, also thanked those who donated on Twitter.

Police say inquiries into the attack are continuing.