Marlow Dalmatian nearly dies after swallowing fishing hook

Bruce the Dalmatian was rushed to Summerleaze Vets in Maidenhead on Sunday morning (December 4) after finding a sharp metal hook in Higginson Park, Marlow - where fishermen often go.

An x-ray revealed he had indeed swallowed a discarded fishing line after being attracted by bait left on the hook. 

Xray of the fishing hook (Image: Newsquest)

Luckily, specialist vets in Lumbry Park in Hampshire were able to remove the hook, but had to cut his throat open. Bruce would have died without vets performing the "extortionate" £10,000 surgery.

Michael Bourton, who is well-known to residents in the Marlow community, spoke to the BFP about his traumatic 48 hours.

He said: "The hook thing never occurred to me but on Sunday we went walking to watch the Santa fun run and the fishermen were there the previous day, which I saw. Obviously, the guy had a broken fishing line and hook and dropped it behind, Bruce had already swallowed it and started coughing, choking. He carried on walking and he started being sick.

"I thought I saw a twig hanging out of his mouth at first but then he was coughing and spluttering to get something out, I realised it wasn’t that and then he tried to be sick and wasn't successful, he was extremely stressed, in an awful lot of pain.

"At that point I went to the vets and could see it was a fishing line. He was so distressed, that I carried him. I thought he wasn't going to make it as Maidenhead couldn’t extract the hook and they then referred me.

"I watched the England match in silence and thought I was going to get a call to 'say I'm sorry he hasn’t made it’."

Michael said he struggled to sleep on Sunday night, anxiously waiting for the phone call to hear whether Bruce had survived surgery or not.

But luckily, he was able to pick up his beloved dog on Monday, December 5, and bring him home.

Mr Bourton spoke of his ordeal in Marlow Facebook community page Marlow Life.

His story, which he wrote as a poem, attracted kind members of the public to send their well-wishes to Bruce and even set up a Paypal donation page.

Marlow Angling Club also reached out to say 'how appalled they are with what happened', wishing to send a cheque to help with the costs, he claims. 

Michael explained how his pet insurance only covered vet costs of £3,000.

"It’s just been not in my nature to beg for money, the money wasn’t relevant. I told the vets I'd sell my car and do anything just to get him back," he explained. 

"It's just heartwarming, my insurance covers £3000 not £7,000. I've not got "7,000 and I thought 'what am I going to do?' And then all of this started.

"Depending on how successful the Paypal donation thing is, it will let me know how much more i'll have to find. In 24 hours it was at £2,000 and I wasn’t expecting this."

Michael feels overwhelmed by how generous the community has been.

The poet said: "It made me really appreciate the people of the local area; but not just Marlow, people who follow my poems all over the world are asking 'how do we donate?'

"I'm overhwlemed with that human level of care, concern and support. It's just been positive.”

To donate: https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8Pzqsjt4Zv