The future looked bleak for Paddy the Jack Russell when he began bumping into furniture and chasing cows as if he was barking mad.

But thanks to a vet and an animal charity the young dog now has his sights set firmly on the future after his crazy behaviour was found to be caused by blindness.

Paddy underwent specialist eye surgery at the end of June and his owner, Mandy Scutt, is now hoping to raise enough money for him to have a second operation on his other eye.

Paddy got off to a poor start in life when he was given to an elderly lady as a present.

As with most Jack Russells, he was very lively and too much of a handful for the pensioner.

She tried to get him rehoused but many organisations said they could not offer Paddy a home and he faced a death sentence until Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service (Wadars) saved him.

Wadars rescue worker Billy Elliott said: "To make matters worse it had already been discovered Paddy had cataracts on both eyes. The lady couldn't afford to have them treated and she couldn't handle him either."

A specialist vet in Emsworth, near Portsmouth in Hampshire, examined Paddy and hoped his eyes would improve as he matured.

Paddy was rehomed with Ms Scutt, of Ardingly Drive, Goring, near Worthing, who already had another four-year-old Jack Russell called Jack.

But just before Christmas, Paddy's condition deteriorated.

Ms Scutt said: "Initially I just thought he was being a pain but it turned out he couldn't see. He began running off, barking at cattle and bumping into things. He was behaving really badly."

A trip to the vet revealed Paddy, now 18 months, was almost blind and had almost no sight in his left eye. Ms Scutt was offered specialist eye treatment at a cost of about £1,200 per eye.

She tried to claim on her pet insurance but was told she was unable to because Paddy's eye problem was congenital.

So Wadars stepped in and paid £400 of the £900 final bill for the left eye to be treated. Now Paddy needs an operation on his right eye.

Wadars is appealing to readers of The Argus to help fund the second op, which could cost up to £1,200.

Ms Scutt said: "Paddy really is lovely. People always stop in the street to talk to him and his brother Jack. Since his operation his behaviour has improved so much but it's so expensive."

Any donations should be sent to Paddy c/o Billy Elliott, Wadars, 33 West Buildings, Worthing, BN11 3BS.