THANKS to two kind-hearted youngsters, tiny Tuftie is on the way to a second eye operation to completely restore her sight.The five-year-old rescued dog had bilateral cataracts in both eyes and has already had one successful operation to give her sight in her right eye - and now her owners are raising money so she can have the second op.

THANKS to two kind-hearted youngsters, tiny Tuftie is on the way to a second eye operation to completely restore her sight.

The five-year-old rescued dog had bilateral cataracts in both eyes and has already had one successful operation to give her sight in her right eye - and now her owners are raising money so she can have the second op.

Brother and sister Tyler and Jodi Henderson, pupils at Causton Junior School, were so touched by the Evening Star's story of the little bichon frise they decided to donate £200 they had been collecting in memory of their granddad.

Tyler, 11, said: “We put all our pennies and other small change in a big jar and until it is full and this was the money we wanted to give for Tuftie.”

Jodi, nine, said: “We were saving the money for the hospice to thank them for looking after our granddad but we can do that lots of times, but we wanted to this time instead give it to help Tuftie so she can see again.”

The dog's owners John and Julie Lowery are trying to raise £2,300 for the operation.

“What the children have given is absolutely phenomenal, fantastic,” said Mr Lowery, of Oak Close, Felixstowe.

“You hear so much today about youth and how bad they all are and it is so much rubbish - this is a really kind gesture that shows how much these youngsters care about animals and what is going on in the world. It's lovely.”

The fund had received several donations from bichon frise owners from all over the country, as well as cheques and cash put through the door by well-wishers and via the Star office in Hamilton Road, Felixstowe.

“People have been marvellous and so kind we cannot thank them enough. The Animal Health Trust have also given us great support,” he said.

The couple have also been running a stall at the regular Saturday car boot sales held on the seafront by Felixstowe Lions, and so far have raised £959 for the second eye operation.

“We are determined to raise enough money for Tuftie's second operation because she really needs it and it would improve the quality of her life so much. The first operation has been great and made everything so much better for her, but she still keeps bumping into things,” said Mr Lowery.

The couple initially gave Tuftie - a bichon frise - a foster home after an appeal by the charity Many Tears Animal Rescue, and then adopted her.

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