Dog owners who lost their beloved whippet to a suspected case of Alabama Rot after an innocent walk near Swindon are now hoping to find a cure. 

Shaun Reynolds, 28, from Lambourn, had two whippets, Willow and Whisper, but after going on a walk in the area in February, Willow was left fighting for her life.

After being given specialist treatment for the rare but fatal condition Willow appeared to improve, but Shaun and his partner Lilly were left devastated after she died on March 5. 

A GoFundMe page has now been set up with the aim to fund research into Alabama Rot and hopefully find a cure for the currently incurable disease. 

You can find the GoFundMe page here, which isn't far off the £10,000 total it was aiming to achieve: https://gofund.me/1f439175

Swindon Advertiser: Shaun Reynolds with a very poorly WillowShaun said: "Our beautiful, kind, loving and immaculately behaved whippet - Willow - lost her life to suspected Alabama Rot following a brave battle against the disease which lasted almost a month.

"Willow was treated at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists in Winchester and had been discharged after returning to an appropriate level of health following 10 days of intensive treatment.

"Sadly, she had to be readmitted after swelling around her lungs affected her ability to breathe. She passed away peacefully shortly after."

He added: "Her passing has completely devastated us, and she made an impact on our lives in four short years which will truly last a lifetime. We'll miss her everyday."

Alabama Rot first appeared in the UK in 2012. Since then, only 318 cases have been confirmed with affected dogs having only a 10% chance of survival. It damages blood vessels in the skin and kidneys.

Currently, there is no proven treatment or cure.

Dogs with Alabama Rot usually display skin sores, visible swelling, red patches or skin defects not caused by a known injury, changes in appetite, drinking more, vomiting and lethargy. 

Swindon Advertiser: Willow during the two days she was able to return home before falling ill again and her eventual deathWillow during the two days she was able to return home before falling ill again and her eventual death (Image: Shaun Reynolds)

Read More: Alabama Rot: Number of cases in Swindon and Wiltshire

Shaun said: "The Alabama Rot Research Fund aims to raise much-needed funds to help find a cure and awareness of the disease. Although devastating, our experience has motivated my partner Lilly and I to do everything in our control to raise as much as possible.

"Willow's story went viral on TikTok and we've been on national and local news to raise awareness of the cruel and rare disease that took her.

"It's making the best of a truly rotten outcome and I hope we can prevent at least one dog from becoming infected," he added.