TIME is running out for a ‘gentle giant’ rescue dog who faces becoming crippled unless funds are found for life-saving surgery.

Rottweiler Great Dane cross Niko, who lives with his owner Trina Gibbs in Cricklade Road, was rescued from Gloucester just over a year ago.

The three-year-old came to Swindon in poor condition, with malformed bones in his back legs and a misplaced hip.

To stop Niko being crippled, a hip replacement operation, which would see metal plates inserted into Niko’s hip bone, is needed.

But the specialist procedure would cost a staggering £5,000, something which Trina simply cannot afford.. Without it, the loveable pooch has less than a year before he will lose the use of his legs and Trina is appealing for the public’s help.

Trina said: “I think he was crated and malnourished at a young age, and his bones never formed correctly in his back legs.

“It was obvious that he had some kind of trauma to his back legs.

“His hip has osteoporosis so he struggles to get up off the sofa or to walk for more than 20 minutes. It is heart-breaking to see.

“You can see when he walks that something isn’t quite right. He’s a young dog and it shouldn’t be like this..”

“He’s a young dog so I want him to be as active and playful as he wants to be and to be like a normal dog of his age should be.

“I can see him getting worse and worse, he struggles to get up and his legs are very stiff.”

Despite his rough start in life, cuddly Niko quickly formed a close bond with Trina’s son Harrison, who has autism, and the pair are now best friends.

The bond is so strong that Harry and Trina have volunteered to shave their heads, in support of Niko. Harry has already raised £200.

Trina said Niko is very much at the heart of the family.

“He is Harry’s best friend and my baby,” said Trina, “despite everything Niko has already gone through in life, he’s still very sweet and gentle,”

“He thinks he is a small dog and will constantly try and sit on your lap for cuddles.”

Trina has rescued many animals over the years and besides Niko, has five dogs and three cats

After raising £1,000, Trina is asking town dog-lovers to help get Niko his independence back.

She said there is only one heart-breaking option if she is unable to fund Niko’s operation in time.

She said: “It breaks my heart but the only humane thing to do if he was crippled would be to put him down.

“Because he is such a big dog I couldn’t carry him, if he was smaller I could get him wheels to support him. He just wouldn’t have a quality of life. I don’t want that to happen. He has his whole life in front of him. I don’t want that taken away.

To donate to Niko’s operation visit gofundme.com/2ctze93x