Veterinary nurse Hannah Myburgh took the French bulldog home after he was diagnosed with a fatal condition – the mother of two wanted to make the poorly pooch's short life a happy one.
But just three weeks ago the Myburgh family, from Foxley near Dereham, were told there could be a way to lengthen the cheeky six-month-old's life – with a £2,800 operation.
Mrs Myburgh does not have the money to pay for the life-saving procedure, so she has vowed to fundraise the cash to mend her beloved family pet's heart.
'We couldn't bear the idea of losing him now,' the 36-year-old said.
'He's part of our family and has taken over our lives.
'He is more than a dog, he's my companion and without him there would be such a big gap.'
The larger-than-life character has a good chance of surviving the specialist heart valve operation which would allow blood to flow properly.
If successful it would stop his heart getting more damaged from the duo of heart conditions, aortic stenosis and pulmonic stenosis, and give him a normal life with the family he loves.
'I can't ignore Alfie's chance of long term happiness,' Mrs Myburgh, who works at Taverham Veterinary Practice, said.
'We are trying to mend his heart. Alfie is a happy, lively and extremely naughty puppy and deserves to have his heart fixed.
'And once he has, he will live a full life, and can run around as a normal puppy would.'
Next month the animal lover will do a sponsored skydive over Beccles Airfield to contribute to the fund.
'If that doesn't raise the money needed, I'm going to have to come up with some other wacky schemes to save our poorly pup – I just have to do something to help him,' she said.
Hannah's sponsored skydive is on May 2.
To sponsor her visit www.gofundme.com/Alfie-french-bull-dog
Are you raising money for a heart-rending cause? Email newsdesk@archant.co.uk
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