Page 5 - Paws & Hooves - Spring 2021

SPOTLIGHT
ON IMHA
Jackson ‘Faithful Companion’
L ike most people Rob Seddon had never heard of Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anaemia (IMHA) until his springer spaniel Jackson was diagnosed during lockdown in April 2020 The symptoms came on on rapidly and and Rob lost his best friend and and and companion of eight years Having lost his his mother to cancer and and with no other other family apart apart from his his sister Rob’s world fell apart apart As a a a a a a a pup Jackson was was so so so tiny that that Rob was was worried that that he’d break him somehow but they got to to know each other and and Jackson became his his best mate and and and his his shadow Rob’s work took him from London to to to Portsmouth and and and then to to to the the Cairngorms in in in in Scotland Jackson was constantly by his side
side
- even running beside him on on on cycling trips in in in in in the mountains!
Then when Rob responded to to a a a a a BBC BBC advert looking for people to to to take part in in a a a a a a a a BBC BBC TV show called “Second Chance Summer” he began to to carve out a a a a a a a a a a new course for for his his life Discovering his his love for for Italian wine wine he started a a a a a a a a a a business called Jackson Jackson & Seddon and began importing wine wine from small producers in in in in Tuscany Jackson Jackson would run around the the vineyard and everyone knew him His lovable nature became part of the the ‘Jackson & Seddon’ brand and and Robs new business forever Once back in the UK Jackson became ill one day when Rob wasn’t able to to be be be with him him and and his friend told him him that Jackson had been shivering and and didn’t want to to go for any walks The vet checked him in overnight as as his gums were white and and she suspected IMHA
Jackson was back and and forth from Paws & Hooves Spring 2021
the the vet but Rob was lucky enough to have him home for for his birthday and then he he he unfortunately passed away a a a a a a a a few days later To honour Jackson’s memory Rob wanted to give something back and help prevent other dogs from going through the the the pain of IMHA
He spoke to his wine wine producers and they suggested that he he he create his own label label for a a a a a a a a a wine wine in in in Jackson’s memory The ‘Faithful Companion’
label label was designed and Rob has donated £1 from the the sale of every bottle to to the the RVC Animal Care Trust towards IMHA
research
Bravely Rob has now got a a a a a a a a a new companion called Cooper also a a a a a a a a a a a a springer spaniel because
he he he says they are such a a a a a a a a a a a wonderful breed (so
many of of his friends now have them too because
of of Jackson) He is is worried about possibly having
to to to face IMHA
IMHA
again in in in in the future but but feels that contributing to to to IMHA
IMHA
research
will help to to to give dogs like Cooper a a a fighting chance We are so so grateful for all the help we receive
from Rob’s company Jackson & Seddon Rob Rob commented that “He was was my my family for the the longest time and and we did everything together He He was was was my my boy and and to to to to to lose him was was devastating If I I I can do something to to to to help find a a a a a a a a a cure for IMHA
to to to to stop other dogs going through the the pain that Jackson did I I will do do everything I I can ” You can support Rob’s ‘Faithful Companion’
label by visiting www jacksonandseddon com and and if your organisation would like to support us please contact jcollins@rvc ac ac uk 5