Ziggy’s legacy: A story of love, loss and lasting Impact
Some bonds change us forever, not just in how we love, but in how we endure, hope, and heal. Kate and her dog Ziggy shared that kind of bond. Over nearly eight years, they navigated a complex medical journey shaped by conditions that affect both animals and humans, from degenerative joint disease to rare neurological disorders. Through it all, Ziggy’s quiet resilience and unwavering spirit supported Kate just as much as she fought for his care. Now, after his loss, she is turning that shared journey into something meaningful – honouring his life while helping others.
Kate’s words: When it all began
“I first noticed Ziggy seemed to have an uneven gait when he was about to turn 1 year old. Not a definite ‘limp’ but something not right. My local vet took an X-ray and examined him and said there was nothing wrong. In the coming weeks I still felt he wasn’t right so asked for a referral to have further investigation done.
I’d had a couple of friends who had been to Fitzpatrick Referrals so I asked for the referral there, happy to make the long drive there and back if it meant Ziggy got the care he needed.
The first appointment was with Padraig who examined Ziggy and said he seemed to have some discomfort but nothing major setting alarm bells off. But in Padraig’s words, ‘you know your dog and you’ve come all this way so we will scan him and see.’
When I returned to the practice a few hours later, I was told that once sedated for the CT, Ziggy had been much more reactive to being examined. The scan showed the start of developmental elbow disease in both elbows, but significantly worse in the left.”
A journey through treatment and hope
“Ziggy underwent arthroscopic fragment removal and came home to recover. All was well for a while until I noticed the change in his gait again. We returned and Noel picked up Ziggy’s case and performed a BURP procedure. Ziggy recovered and we did all his favourite things – beach trips, swimming together in rivers and walking in our favourite woods.
Then in late 2021 he worsened again. This time Noel performed an SHO, which he explained had a limited effective lifespan but it was hoped it would last Ziggy the remainder of his natural life. To help support the elbow we decided to do stem cell treatments every 6 months using cells grown from harvesting Ziggy’s own fat cells. This combination meant he once again returned to an active and happy life.”
Facing the unexpected
“Then in July 2025 I noticed he looked uncomfortable in his back legs. My local vet agreed there was an issue with either his back or back legs. Noel examined him and we were all alarmed at how Ziggy reacted to the extension of his back legs. He was given an MRI immediately which showed he had the rare condition occult tethered cord syndrome, another condition that human patients can suffer with too.
Noel hadn’t treated this before but formed a plan to fuse part of the spine and untether the cord. Using a titanium plate, he hoped to support the spine and prevent reattachment of the cord. The surgery took place in September 2025 and again Ziggy bounced back after a week as an inpatient.”
More courage, more decisions
“However, a few months later he started to limp again and my worst fears were confirmed – the left elbow had degraded further and the SHO was no longer providing the relief it had been giving. Ziggy had already been through so much getting over the spinal surgery, it felt like an impossible choice not to do more for the elbow.
So Noel performed a CUE, a partial elbow replacement. Ziggy was recovering well from this and was some weeks into his recovery when I noticed him limping again. At his check-up, Noel discovered the tendon moved during surgery hadn’t returned to its correct position and the joint wasn’t stable. He proposed replacing the ligament using a synthetic repair.”
Saying goodbye
“Ziggy had this surgery in March 2026. I was warned it would be a tough recovery and I followed every instruction, ensuring his physio was done regularly and that the wound was checked. Sadly, an infection took hold of the site of the surgery and within 12 hours of his leg showing any sign of infection, Ziggy passed away.
I got him to Noel but I knew I’d lost him when I saw his face. Ziggy went to sleep in the sunshine under the trees with Noel, his intern Lorenzo and a nurse, Emily, all by his side – the people who had fought so hard for him and wanted him to live as much as I did. Even at the end, he had a nibble of my chin and was nothing but sweet natured.
Ziggy was the sweetest boy. He was notoriously hard to diagnose because he was so stoical and happy – he didn’t give pain away easily. He never grumbled, never showed any sign of aggression. He went into Fitzpatrick Referrals to see his pals without a backward glance every time, which is a testament to the staff there.
Ziggy was, and always will be, my heart dog. He supported me in so many ways and life won’t ever be the same without him.”
Turning grief into purpose
After Ziggy’s passing, Kate made the decision to channel her grief into something that could help others. Having witnessed first-hand how conditions like degenerative joint disease and occult tethered cord syndrome affect both animals and humans, she became passionate about supporting work that bridges that gap.
A walk in Ziggy’s memory
In Ziggy’s memory, Kate organised a memorial walk and fundraiser at Fraisthorpe Beach on the East Yorkshire coast on Saturday 6 June.
She said: “All dogs and their humans are warmly welcome. Donations are not required, but always appreciated – the most important thing is sharing the joy of dogs enjoying the beach, just as Ziggy did. I just want to do something to help – Ziggy was helped so much, it feels only fair something comes from his memory.”
Please donate if you can: https://humanimaltrust.enthuse.com/pf/kate-sellers
READ MORE ABOUT THE WALK AND SEE PHOTOS FROM THE DAY
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