Dog rescued from China to Doncaster collapses on walk with mystery illness

A devastated Doncaster family have launched a £5,000 funding campaign for a dog rescued from China which collapsed after a walk with a mystery illness.

Nala, who was brought thousands of miles to begin a new life in England, has been diagnosed with masses on her liver which have left her seriously ill.

Owner Czarino Arevalo is now calling for help to help the beloved family pet receive treatment.

On a funding page - which you can donate to here - https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-give-nala-a-fighting-chance-v84n8 - Czarina wrote: “We never imagined we would have to write something like this, but our beautiful Nala needs help.

“Last Saturday, after what had been a lovely normal walk in the fields, Nala became very unwell.

“We took her for emergency veterinary care, and investigations discovered two unknown masses on her liver.

“We were devastated.Initially, because of the seriousness of what was found, euthanasia was raised as an option.

“Hearing that was an enormous shock.

“Everything had happened so quickly - only hours earlier she had been out playing and happy.

“We weren’t ready to give up on her without first understanding exactly what we are dealing with and whether there is something that can be done.”

Nala’s story began in January 2019 in Harbin, China, during the bitter winter when temperatures could fall to around -25°C.

She had been abandoned by her previous owner and was in a very vulnerable state when the family rescued her.

Added Czarina: “At the time, we already had three rescued cats, so our original plan was simply to get Nala somewhere safe, care for her, and eventually find her a loving permanent home.

“That plan lasted only a few days.Nala very quickly became part of our family. She was naturally the easiest and sweetest dog we could ever have hoped for.

“She never caused problems, adapted to everything around her, even developed wholesome friendships with the cats, and seemed grateful simply to be loved and safe.

“Before we knew it, the idea of giving her to another family became unimaginable. Nala had found her home, and we had found a beloved addition to the family.

“During the pandemic, Nala became even more important to me. Through the isolation, uncertainty and difficult days, she stayed beside me.

“She became a source of comfort and strength when I needed it most. Sometimes she didn’t need to do anything at all - just her presence made things feel a little easier.

“After the pandemic, we managed to bring Nala all the way from China to England, where she continued doing what she has always done best: bringing happiness to our family and to almost everyone she meets.”

Nala is currently receiving intensive veterinary care and antibiotics while the family try to get answers.

The next steps recommended for her include advanced imaging such as a CT scan and obtaining a biopsy/tissue sample so the veterinary team can better understand what the masses are and what treatment may be possible.

Added Czarina: “Unfortunately, the cost of emergency treatment, investigations, medication, scans, specialist consultations and continued care has quickly become more than we can manage.

“We have already spent what we could and have borrowed money to pay for Nala’s care. We have reached the heartbreaking point where the next decisions about her treatment may be limited not by how much we love her or how willing we are to help her, but simply by whether we can afford the investigations she needs

“We are not asking anyone to promise us a miracle. We are simply asking for the opportunity to find out what is happening to Nala and whether she can be helped.After everything she has been through - from being abandoned in the freezing winter in China, to becoming our much-loved family member, surviving the pandemic beside us and travelling thousands of miles to begin a new life in England - we feel we owe her that chance.”