A teenager who was told she would lose her dog because she couldn’t afford the vet bills is set to be reunited with the pet – thanks to Argus readers.

Meghan Bingham was told she would have to pay around £2,000 for an operation after Blue was hit by a car last Saturday.

The 17-year-old, who goes to college and works part-time at Poundstretcher, was told that if she couldn’t afford the vet fees, she would have to either sign her pet away to a charity or have it put down.

With no other option, the Lancing girl signed the forms and said goodbye to her beloved nine-year-old dog for the last time.

But following her story appearing in The Argus on Thursday, we have been flooded with phone calls from kind-hearted readers wanting to help out.

With the total amount pledged quickly exceeding the £2,000 estimate, local dog charity manager Billy Elliott said he would be happy to reunite the pair.

An emotional Meghan said: “I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated money.”

Mr Elliott, from Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service (Wadars), said: “We need to make sure whoever adopts one of our animals is able to support them in the future.

“If not, it comes straight back to us next time and we just cannot afford it. We have had people call and criticise us, but if we had not come up with the money last weekend, Blue would have been put down there and then. It’s as simple as that.”

He told The Argus that as long as Meghan could prove she was financially capable of supporting the dog by getting animal insurance, he would be happy to reunite them.

Stacey McSpirit, from the Paws Animal Sanctuary in Findon, was straight onto the phone on Thursday morning pledging her support.

She said: “We saw the story and just wanted to get those two dogs [Blue and Meghan's other dog Della] back together.

“We’ve just had some money left to us by a visitor who recently died of cancer. He used to come up to see the animals and would have loved to have help out.

“We don’t normally have much money but thought ‘Let’s do it, it must be fate’.”

Dave Hawkin, who also called us to pledge his support, added: “She seemed like she needed help so I’m only too happy to be of assistance.”