So much 'humanity': Thousands pour in to save hero dog Charlie

Donations to help save Pip Clark's poodle Charlie have poured in. Photo/Martin Hunter

Thousands of dollars have poured in to help save the life of Charlie the poodle who scared away an armed intruder who attacked his owner.

This morning the Herald published the story of Pip Clark and her plight to pay for about $5000 of vet bills racked up in an effort to save her best friend.

A year ago Charlie scared off an intruder who came into Clark's Christchurch home, punched her and tried to slit her throat. So when the dog became unwell earlier this week she knew she had to do what she could to save him.

Less than five hours after her story was published almost $6000 had poured in and Clark had more than enough to cover the bill so closed the Givealittle page to stop people donating excess money.

"I just can't believe it. People have just been amazing," she said this morning. "I haven't seen much of this side of humanity before so it's amazing."

Clark can only work part-time because she has spent the past 14 years living with the effects of a serious attack on her when she was a child.

"They didn't just save Charlie. They saved me with my perception of people and life. I'm just in awe," she said.

"My life has been a challenging one and having Charlie with me makes it a thousand times easier. You all have had a great impact not only on saving Charlie but showing me huge kindness that I have not experienced much of in my life and I can not express just how grateful I am, you've saved Charlie and myself."

Donations had come in from all over the world including England, Canada and America, she said.

"I was beyond stressed. I'm just grateful and thankful. There's not words that can really express it."

As for Charlie, the vet operated yesterday and removed pieces of towel he had eaten and that had become lodged throughout his intestines. Clark said he appeared to have been in quite some pain during the night but the drugs had since kicked in and he had fallen asleep this morning.

The vet said he was doing well and should recover but Clark said there was some chance of infection because the vet had to make multiple incisions and pull the pieces of towel through.