Dr Janey Lowes has raised £260,000 towards a £1.5 million appeal, with two roadside rescues showing why a new hospital is needed
A puppy who needed emergency surgery after a road collision has become the focus of British veterinary surgeon Dr Janey Lowes’ appeal to build a new hospital for Sri Lanka’s street animals.
Janey found Petal near the end of her 621 km Dog Jog across the island. Her rescue, alongside that of a paralysed dog named Sarnie, brought the purpose of the challenge into sharp focus: getting treatment to animals who might otherwise have nobody to help them.
The run has raised £260,000 towards WECare Worldwide’s £1.5 million target. With £1.24 million still needed, Janey is asking supporters to help fund lasting care beyond these individual rescues.
Janey, from Barnard Castle, County Durham, founded WECare in 2014. Its work combines veterinary treatment with neutering, vaccination and community education.
The proposed development includes a veterinary hospital, a rehabilitation centre and a training facility. WECare has secured the land, but needs further funding to turn those plans into a working hospital.
The charity’s existing premises in Gandara require continuing repairs, while seriously injured animals wait for space.
Janey said: “It breaks our hearts knowing that we could help more of them if we only had a better facility.”
The need became immediate when Janey encountered Petal. The puppy had reportedly survived for two weeks after being hit by a vehicle, despite a serious internal injury. WECare’s team rushed Petal to surgery to fix her life-threatening diaphragmatic hernia, before providing overnight intensive care when she deteriorated following surgery.
Earlier in the challenge, a warning about elephant attacks forced Janey’s team to change route. On the diversion, they spotted Sarnie, a severely underweight dog who did not move as their support tuk-tuk approached.
Janey stopped to examine her and found that she could not use her back legs.
The team took Sarnie with them, sharing food and caring for her in hotel rooms while arranging the long transfer to WECare’s hospital in southern Sri Lanka, where she is now undergoing physio.
Her rescue showed how easily an injured animal can go unnoticed, and how much depends on somebody stopping.
For WECare, reaching a dog is only the beginning. Animals may need surgery, nursing, rehabilitation and somewhere safe to recover before they can leave hospital.
A dedicated rehabilitation centre would help the charity provide that continuing care while releasing hospital space for new emergencies. Training veterinary professionals would extend the project’s impact beyond the animals treated by WECare’s own team.
Janey completed the Dog Jog from Point Pedro in the north to Dondra in the south, attracting support from broadcaster and adventurer Ben Fogle.
The charity is now asking people to keep sharing and donating to the appeal so more dogs can receive help when they need it.
