AN Edgware couple has launched a crowdfunding appeal to help pay expensive vet bills for their puppy.

Alessio and Catia Angelo, of Banstock Road, took Tiberius, a crossbreed Bearded Collie, into their home just before Christmas.

But when they took him to the vets for his first injections, they were told he was suffering from a hereditary heart condition, and required an immediate operation.

The operation was successfully carried out last week – but the couple is now calling on people to help pay the vet bills, which have already reached £4,000.

Mrs Angelo said: “We are so touched by the support we have already received for Tibbs towards his operations, we completely fell in love with him as soon as we met him and it has been devastating watching his condition deteriorate.

“We still have a lot of money to raise but our GoFundMe page has already been so valuable for our puppy’s future.”

Kelsea Little, media director at GoFundMe, the site hosting the appeal, said: “It is wonderful to see that over 70 people have donated toward Tiberius's operation. We are so happy that the Angelo family was able to rally their community for this cause, and we hope that Tiberius recovers very soon.”

To visit the crowdfunding page, click here.