Injured puppy's new owner couldn't bear to watch first episode of vet series
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The new owner of a puppy operated on in a TV documentary series about a Caithness-based veterinary practice admitted she would find it too difficult to watch.
"When someone sent me a clip I literally burst into tears," Lynn Paterson, of Castletown, revealed ahead of the first episode of The Highland Vet, which was broadcast last night.
"I won't be watching it – I know what she was like when she came to me. I don't want to see what she went through."
In the first of the series, which follows the ups and downs of life at DS McGregor & Partners, the two-month-old Tamaskan puppy is rushed to the surgery in Thurso after being attacked by an older dog.
Lynn explained that she has renamed the puppy – referred to as Leyla in the TV show – as Uki, which means little survivor.
"She was such a tiny scrap, none of thought she would pull through," she said.
Uki was rushed to the vets by her previous owner after another dog at the household attacked it.
Lynn's daughters persuaded their mother to take on the wee pup, weighing in at only 2.33kg, and she picked her up straight from the vets in Thurso on January 26 – four days after the operation. The pup was described as a "miracle patient" in the programme.
The new owner said: "I think my other three dogs have been a big part of Uki's recovery – she is learning from them. She is absolutely brilliant. I could not ask for a better puppy.
"I have been with her every single day since I got her."
Reflecting on how small Uki was at the time when her life was in the balance, Lynn said: "You should see her now – she is just a totally different dog. She is happy and has no fear of other dogs or people.
"When we go walks she just loves everybody and everything."
Lynn takes her four dogs for exercise regularly around Castletown, with the harbour being one of the favourite spots as she finds it a good place to teach them to swim and feels this strengthens their muscles.
The series, co-produced by Daisybeck Studios, an eOne company, and Motion Content Group, follows on from Channel 5’s hit show The Yorkshire Vet – now in its 10th series.
The 12-part one-hour programme began on June 15 and the first episode saw vet Shondie Maclean facing the most dramatic case of her career as the puppy arrived at the practice as an emergency.
The next episode of The Highland Vet is on Monday at 9pm on 5Select.
