By Charlotte Smith
In a tragic turn of events, a devoted owner was left heartbroken after his beloved dog began to limp and tragically died just weeks later from a rare disease known as Alabama rot . Shaun Reynolds, 29, initially suspected that his four-year-old whippet, Willow, might have had a fracture or an infection when she started limping in February last year. The condition swiftly escalated when a sore on Willow’s foot rapidly doubled in size in the span of an hour. Shaun rushed her back to the vets, and she was given more medication, but, regrettably, her condition worsened . Following a blood test that showed her kidneys were failing, she was sent to a specialist for Alabama rot . Shaun, working in public relations from Lambourn, Berkshire, recounted the agonising decision he had to make to “let her go” on March 5, 2024, after Willow spent two weeks in intensive care. Since then, he has been committed to spreading awareness about Alabama rot and has begun a fundraiser for a charity fighting this disease. With a survival rate of just 10%, Alabama rot was first recognised in the UK in 2012 and has seen only 330 confirmed cases so far, reports the Mirror . Reflecting on the abrupt loss, Shaun said: “One minute, Willow was fit, happy, and healthy. The next, she was gone. I actually raised Alabama rot on the first visit to the vet. They didn’t rule it out, but the chances are like one in multi-millions. It’s so rare. “They gave her medication and we went home, but I took her back when she developed the sore. She was given more meds again, but over the next few days, she started acting lethargic and being sick. A blood test then showed her kidneys were starting to fail, and I was told I either had to put her down now, or take her to Anderson Moores – an Alabama rot specialist.” Willow spent two intense weeks in Anderson Moores’ ICU under the expert care of some of the nation’s finest vets; however, her health continued to deteriorate. Shaun discovered there was only one further treatment available, carrying substantial risks without guaranteeing a good quality of life afterwards. Shaun recounts the heart-wrenching decision: “I was allowed in to see her to make the decision, and I knew immediately I couldn’t put her through it,” adding his long history with dogs through family ties. “I’ve been around dogs my whole life. My grandad worked with dogs, and my dad worked with dogs. But when I saw Willow, I’d never seen a dog so ill. I would have chucked everything I could at keeping her alive, but I had to let her go.” In the wake of Willow’s passing, Shaun devoted himself to raising funds for Alabama Rot Research, aiming to help uncover a cure for the dreadful illness so no other owner suffers a similar fate. As part of this effort, he has commenced a GoFundMe campaign and plans a fundraising event at Lambourn Sports Club on September 14. The event will transform the football pitch into a whippet racing track in tribute to Willow, a champion racer. Shaun said: “I just thought I’m in a position where I could do something. I could use Willow’s story to raise awareness of Alabama rot – and raise funds for Alabama Rot Research. “I hosted an event at Lambourn Sports Club when I first lost Willow, and lots of people showed up – so I’m holding another one in September. There will be games, music, an auction, food, drinks, and whippet racing, as Willow used to race. “She was incredible. She won all the time. And then she’d come back to my car and we’d sit and eat a bag of Quavers. Shaun said that in her four short years, Willow had an impact on him that will “last a lifetime. She was very loyal, very loving, and very determined. “She loved her walks. She loved racing. And we had a lot of fun on sunny days when we’d drive to the beach together. Even though she only lived for four years, she was very loved during that time. I try to take comfort in knowing I gave her a great life while I could.” To donate to Shaun’s GoFundMe, visit this page . To buy tickets for Shaun’s fundraising event, ‘A Celebration of Willow’, visit this page . Shaun was aware of Alabama rot and knew to take precautions, such as washing down paws after a muddy walk. However, many dog owners have never heard of the disease, and so he has encouraged people to read up on it. The RSPCA has outlined symptoms to watch out for, which include skin sores, visible swelling, and red patches not resulting from a known injury. These usually manifest below the knee or elbow and occasionally on the face, at the bottom of the chest, or abdomen. Pet owners should also be vigilant for changes in appetite, vomiting, and lethargy. The cause of the disease remains unknown, but researchers speculate it could be due to bacteria or toxins and may be associated with walking in wet or muddy conditions. Consequently, owners are advised to wash off all mud after walks.