A canine rescue charity has launched an urgent appeal to save one of their dogs from having to be put down.

K9 Crusaders in Bissoe has just days to raise £3,000 to pay for a life saving operation for Ross, one of the stars of the K9 World Cup predictions, who has a badly slipped disc and is getting weaker by the day in his back legs.

Ross had been abandoned in a pound and was running out of time until he would have been put to sleep, before the charity saved him.

Wendy Carbis, the chair of K9 Crusaders, said: "We have raised enough money to get him to a specialist for a scan, over £700, and had to travel to Bristol as both the specialists in St Austell and Exeter were on holiday.

"This is now completed and we have the verdict that he needs an operation asap, as he has already waited for an age just to get seen by someone, but the cost due to his large breed size will be around £6,000.

"However, we have managed to get a discount from the wonderful people at Highcroft Vets in Bristol which has brought the bill down to £3000.

"We feel that, despite the enormity of the amount needed, that Ross really does deserve a chance at a bright future, so we are pleading with you all to please give the big guy a chance and donate whatever you can afford for Ross. Humanity has turned their back on him before and we will not do it when he needs us most."

If you would like to donate, visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/for_Ross