A FORMER soldier is devastated after a puppy he saved from death row in Romania died.

Paul Guest hoped the pooch would help him cope with his post traumatic stress disorder and started raising money to bring the puppy back to the UK.

Invictus Games participant Paul, 54, had travelled to Bucharest to promote a marathon for the animal charity Paws2Rescue earlier this month.

During his visit he visited animal centres where he claims he witnessed dogs being abused and hurt.

But he found hope in the form of a three-month-old puppy he named Little Vic – after Invictus Games.

Paul, who struggles to leave the house on his own, hoped Little Vic could be trained to help give him vital support and clam him down.

He also rescued four other dogs and took them for medical attention.

Paul, of Walton Road, Kirby-le-Soken, was given the devastating news last week that Little Vic didn’t pull through after being kept in squalid conditions and catching an infection.

“He was taken to the vets after we rescued him from the centre,” he said.

“But he had three prominent diseases that meant he passed away not long after.

“All the vets were fighting to keep him alive and it was very touch and go.

“We got the sad news that he didn’t make it when I got a phone call from Paws2Rescue last week.

“It’s devastating really. I really got my hopes up I wanted him to come home and support me.

“It’s knocked me back quite a bit because it’s not just like replacing a rescue dog.

“Little Vic was going to come over and do a good thing.”

Despite Paul’s heartbreak over Little Vic, he is determined to stay positive and has plans in the pipeline to bring over two other pups called Anna and Bella.

One would be trained up to be as his PTSD care dog and the other would be sent to a loving home.

Paul, who served in Northern Ireland and the Gulf as a mine warfare specialist before suffering severe neck and spine injuries in 1987, said: “It’s going to take about three of four months before we can get them over and it’s quite a way off as they have to be six months old before they can travel.

“I haven’t lost hope – it’s made me want to fight more.”

Paul is still fundraising for Paws2Rescue which provides shelter and vet treatment for dogs across Romania.

To donate to Paul’s fund or to find out more visit Facebook.com and search Paul’s fundraiser for Paws2Rescue.