A Dog & His Toys

Dog needs surgery after eating seven toys

Meet Bonzai – a contender for the title of Lancashire's hungriest dog.

Vets have just removed SEVEN pieces of toys from the 12-year-old mixed breed's stomach.

Owner Joy Humphreys, of Brindle Road, Bamber Bridge, took him to the vets after noticing he was tired and drinking more water than usual.
After a major operation last week to remove the offending objects, the playful pooch is recovering at home and enjoying new toys under the watchful eye of Joy and husband Frank.
Joy said: "I was devastated because he's a much-loved dog. It was a terrible feeling because we really thought we'd lose him.

"He's more than a pet, he's a member of the family. I just can't imagine what it would be like without him."

Joy's daughter Debbie, who lives in Heath Charnock, got Bonzai as an abandoned two-week-old puppy when she was living in Spain.

She called him Bonzai, after being told he wouldn't grow to be very big – he's now six stone! Joy said they should have called him Lucky as it's not the first time Bonzai has been on the operating table.

Earlier this year he got a stick impaled through his tongue after leaping to catch it mid-air.

Joy said: "He's a real survivor. I can't believe he's had yet another episode.

"He's just had a check-up. He's on medication for his liver for another month and then they'll do another blood test to check it's functioning properly. So fingers crossed, it works out."

Joy, who has now bought Bonzai some harder toys, warns other dog owners to keep an eye on their pet's soft toys.