AN ANIMAL sanctuary volunteer in Sri Lanka was so moved by the plight of a skeletal Great Dane he flew the dog back to his Delamere home.

Sean Burke was at Animal SOS when Cindy arrived in a 'horrific' state, barely alive after being treated by vets who had taken her in from her owners.

The nine-month old pup was unable to stand and covered in pressure sores along with dried urine and faeces. Her ideal weight was around 45kg, but the emaciated dog was less than half that figure.

Small business owner Sean, who was volunteering at the sanctuary, was so shocked by her condition that he vowed to fly her back to the UK if she pulled through.

The 51-year-old said: “She was in an awful state and at deaths door. I thought if she can get through this I want to give her the best life possible.

“Great Danes are usually status dogs in Sri Lanka, but it was clear she had been underfed and not cared for.”

After the tireless work of the charity’s vets Cindy survived – but Sean ended up with more than he bargained for after she formed an unbreakable bond with paralysed puppy Eddy in the sanctuary’s clinic.

Chester and District Standard:

Eddy had been hit by a vehicle on the busy Sri Lankan roads when he was just a few weeks old, but eventually began walking again on Christmas Day 2018.

Sean knew he could not separate the pair after they had recovered together and decided to fly both back to his home in Delamere Forest, where he has two other rescue dogs and lives with his wife and daughter.

It took four months, a 12-hour flight, thousands of pounds and an emotional reunion at the airport, but now the duo have settled in well and landed on their paws – enjoying a five-acre garden to play in and long daily walks.

Sean said: “I was worried because I had never flown animals before. I was so relieved to see them bounding around and once I had my hands on them I knew I they were safe.

“They are little and large, both best mates. At the sanctuary they slept together on a big duvet and still do.”

It was the fourth time Sean had visited Animal SOS, a UK-registered charity which takes in injured and disabled dogs from across the country and currently has some 1,600 dogs and 60 cats at its site.

And while he supports with donations he is urging others to help the stretched charity continue its life-saving work.

He added: “The charity really is incredible and has a complete no destruction policy. The challenges there are huge and they have never given up despite the obstacles they face, constantly going above and beyond to help those in need.

Chester and District Standard:

"They are completely hand to mouth with funds so please support them if you can.”

Charity founder Kim Cooling, who lives in the UK but regularly flies to Sri Lanka to help at the sanctuary, says it is under constant pressure to support the many injured and disabled dogs on the island.

She said: "The charity's ethos is to give animals a chance. We rescue dogs like Cindy and Eddy on a daily basis and nurse them back from the brink of death.

"Animals that would be classed as 'hopeless cases' do survive, as these two wonderful dogs prove.

"They are just two of the many miracles at the sanctuary. We believe that where there is love, there is life."