Nobody knows this better than Safety Beach resident Justine Walker. When she found out she couldn't have children, Ms Walker decided to have dogs instead.

Her two West Highland terriers, siblings Astro and Bessy, are her 'babies'.

"I've got no children and have never been married so my dogs mean everything to me," she said. "I treat them like my children - I get up in the middle of the night if they need something. I couldn't be without them."

But when Ms Walker had the dogs desexed in July, Bessy didn't wake up well from the anaesthetic.

The vet diagnosed Bessy with a porto-systemic shunt, which causes the liver to malfunction, and said that without surgery Bessy would die within a year.

"It was very traumatic," Ms Walker said. "My dogs are my life and was very hard to see Bessy so sick."

Ms Walker, who suffers from a spinal condition and isn't able to work, could not afford to pay the full amount for the operation.

After being told the operation would cost $1700, Ms Walker managed to find $1200 but was struggling to make up the remaining $500.

The Pet Medical Crisis Fund came to the rescue and offered to donate $500 for Bessy's surgery and emergency care.

Established by Jennifer Hunt, the fund assists pet owners who cannot afford emergency veterinary care.

Veterinarian Chris Preston, of the Pet and Emergency Specialist Centre in Malvern East, reduced his costs from $4000 and performed the surgery.

"I'm so grateful to Dr Preston and the Pet Medical Crisis Fund," Ms Walker said. "It eased the financial strain of Bessy's surgery."

Bessy is expected to make a full recovery from the surgery and won't require any ongoing medication once the wound has healed.

Tax deductible donations to help get other sick pets on the road to recovery can be made at any Westpac Bank or online at petmedicalcrisisf und.com.au