A VETERINARY practice in Launceston has expressed its delight after a dog, who was temporarily put in the care of the practice after a serious injury, has settled into a new home.

Vets4Pets Launceston, which is located to the rear of the town’s Pets at Home store in Launceston Retail Park, has expressed grateful thanks to the new owner of Bailey, a four-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, who lost all use of his back legs after suffering a serious spinal injury just before the new year.

His previous owners were unable to take care of him due to the nature of his ongoing treatment and care required.

Under the expert care of the team at Vets4Pets Launceston, Bailey has been undergoing physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, showing consistent signs of improvement. But as he gained more strength and confidence, the biggest hope for both Bailey and the Vets4Pets team was that an extra special person would come along and give him a loving, caring and supportive long-term home.

The team recently put the appeal to their supporters on social media, where they asked for people to come forward if they thought they could find space for Bailey in their home, adding that they did not ‘want to consider putting him to sleep’ and that a potential owner would need to offer a supportive environment for Bailey to continue his recovery.

A spokesperson from Vets4Pets Launceston told the Post: “Bailey came into us as he lost the use of his back legs. At this point he could not hold his back end up hardly at all.

“He has been having physiotherapy and hydrotherapy and he has improved so much! His previous family are unable to provide him with the care he needs, given his current condition, and so we’ve been looking after him between us here — he’s spent most of his time at home with our vet Jo, her children and two dogs.

“He’s the loveliest boy. He gets on with other dogs, he isn’t phased by cats and he is so good with children. He is on a hypoallergenic diet as he also has allergies, but this is all he needs to manage the symptoms.”

The team’s wishes were granted on Saturday, January 18 when the team announced on their Facebook page that they had finally found a home for Bailey — that of Vets4Pets Launceston’s very own receptionist, Toni Loos!

As a core member of the Vets4Pets Launceston team, Toni has seen first-hand the hardships and achievements Bailey has experienced in recent weeks.

She told the Post: “Working in the vets, I’d watched his plight unfold. I’d heard the conversations where it was a real possibility that maybe a PTS (put to sleep) would be the kindest option as Bailey was becoming very sad at going to short-term foster homes, then having to leave through no fault of his own.”

Toni has been working at Vets4Pets since August 2019, and has already taken a rat home who had been suffering from breathing problems, adding to the busy household of two dogs and two cats.

Despite promising her husband that she would not bring any more animals home, it seemed Bailey was to be an exception.

Toni continued: “He (her husband) had heard all about Bailey and seen the updates and after meeting him and seeing him so sad, he agreed we would be his forever home.

“I’ve never had a pet with disabilities or allergies so I’m on a steep learning curve, but I have time, love and determination that all my pets will live their best lives.”

Bailey has made himself at home since Toni and her husband made the decision to take him in.

Toni said: “He is settling in so well. He is already every day showing his character and spark for life! Christiane (a vet from Vets4Pets Launceston) is paying personally for some specialist physio, and a wonderful lady from up country who saw Bailey’s story has pledged to loan him wheels so he can keep up with my other two (dogs).

“People have sent so many messages of love, I am very proud to be his new mum.”