A BILBROOK woman has launched an appeal for an animal charity which helped save the life of her dog after thugs slashed his throat and left him for dead in a country lane.

Jo Grellier said she was indebted to the North Devon Animal 4Ambulance who stepped in when her ten-year-old Jack Russell was callously dumped in Devon.

The dog, called Jack, needed 84 stitches to a vicious throat wound and today (Friday) will undergo surgery to remove a front leg after he suffered nerve damage in the attack.

Jo said she was convinced Jack had been stolen from his kennel in the hours before he was found near Exmoor Zoo last Thursday.

She said she had contacted police the day before he vanished after being visited by some suspicious door-to-door sellers.

"An Irish gentlemen came to my door the day before and he was acting really weirdly and I felt so uneasy I immediately rang the police to report it.

"I haven't got any evidence to prove Jack was stolen, but it's my gut feeling as he disappeared the next day.

"I don't know if he was taken from the kennel or whether he just got out, but someone picked him up as he was found on a remote road over 15 miles away," Jo said.

Jack had suffered a terrible slash wound and was lucky to be found by a passing motorist who picked him up and took him to Market Vets in Barnstaple for treatment.

The vet confirmed the injury was not accidental and had probably been caused by a knife.

Jo was reunited with her pet after contacting the Dog Lost website and rumours spread like wildfire on social media of dog thieves casing out properties in West Somerset.

Her appeal was spotted by the North Devon Animal Ambulance charity and they tracked her down and put her in touch with the vet treating Jack.

"When he went missing I reported it to the police due to suspicious activity in our area from suspected dog thieves but I was told it was unlikely he was stolen and more than likely run off and would return safely.

"Well, that wasn't the case and my poor little dog was found over 15 miles from our home address the same day and had been brutally cut with what the vets seem to think is a knife and left for dead on the side of the road," Jo said.

But determined for something positive to come from Jack's terrible ordeal, Jo launched an online appeal to raise at least £1,000 for the animal ambulance charity.

"The amazing North Devon Animal Ambulance works alongside the veterinary centre and they called me within hours to confirm it was my boy and reassured me they are doing everything they can to make sure he makes a full recovery.

"They even offered to pay for Jack's treatments and vet bill as this is part of the service of their charity, even though they said they would need to get fundraising as his bill was already very very high and that's before his possible amputation," Jo said.

Donations have been pouring into her online appeal at http://www.justgiving.com/Jo-Grellier">www.justgiving.com/Jo-Grellier since word of the attack spread.

"I would love to be able to raise as much money as possible so the charity do not have to foot the bill for what these vile, nasty people have done to my innocent dog.

"I hope people can help by donating even a small amount as I intend to top-up the donations to ensure the full balance is paid," she said.

The Free Press contacted a police spokesman last Wednesday after rumours circulated online of potential dog thieves working in West Somerset.

At the time, the force said there were no reports of any dogs being stolen but did confirm a group of people were travelling around the area, trying to goods door-to-door.

Magna West Somerset Housing Association issued its own warning to residents about door-to-door salesman operating in Minehead after one tenant paid £290 for dusters and other items.

Yesterday (Thursday), a police spokesman said inquiries were continuing into the incident involving Jack.

Jo is hoping he will be well enough to make the journey home some time next week.