A WORRIED dog owner is trying to raise thousands of pounds to save a three-month-old puppy with a dangerous heart condition.

Zoe Beech, 39, has vowed to do her utmost to help her French bulldog, Albert – even if it puts her thousands of pounds into debt to save him.

She travelled hundreds of miles to buy Albert from a Kennel Club-registered breeder, but claims she was not told he had a heart defect known as pulmonic stenosis.

She has been told he needs an expensive operation by the end of the month in an effort to open the artery leading from his heart.

Miss Beech said: “This year has been awful for me and buying Albert was supposed to give me something to look forward to.

“Obviously, it has all been ruined – all the joy of having a puppy has been replaced by the heartache of having a sick puppy.

“I was going to get a rescue dog, but then I saw Albert. The breeder seemed lovely and understood why I was buying him. They said they were dog lovers themselves.

“I did everything people say you should do.”

Miss Beech said she had already spent £1,000 on scans and had been told an operation could cost as much as £5,000.

She added: “I have already booked it for September 26.

“I’m just trying to make sure I don’t get into any more debt, I am selling stuff on Ebay – some of my belongings.

“I do feel mean asking people to help, but it will all go for his surgery. Whatever happens he will get it. He means the world to me.”

Miss Beech said the breeder had offered her a refund, but she believes Albert should never have been put up for sale in the first place with a heart defect If Miss Beech fails to raise another £3,000, she says she will try to borrow the money.

She added: “It’s only money. I would rather spend it on that and know I did my best, than just shipping him back like faulty goods.”

For details, visit justgiving.com/yimby/ALB