IT was tragedy to triumph for an adorable pet pooch who has been crowned as this year’s Tele Pet Idol champion.

Lovable Weimaraner Oscar nearly died just days ago after suffering from heart failure.

But the 13-year-old bounced back to claim his crown as Inverclyde’s top dog.

His proud owners Caroline McCormick and her husband Billy, of Farquhar Road in Port Glasgow, say it has been an emotional rollercoaster.

Caroline said: “It’s brilliant that he’s won Pet Idol.
“It has really cheered us up after what he’s been through as we thought we were going to lose him.”

Caroline said she feared the worst when Oscar suddenly became unwell.

She said: “We were sitting watching TV on Saturday night and I could hear this thump, thump, thump.

“It turned out it was his heart beating on the floor.”

In a race against time, Oscar was rushed to the vets for emergency treatment.

Caroline added: “His heart rate was up at 240 and it should’ve been beating at 120.”

Oscar, who was treated at Abbey Veterinary Group in Greenock, was diagnosed with heart failure, but against all the odds, he has pulled through.

Caroline said: “They have given him medication to slow his heart, but we have to watch him constantly. Because of his age, they can’t operate on him and he also has arthritis.”

The 50-year-old, who works as a customer service manager in Ladbrokes in Princes Street, says she’s grateful to everyone who voted for her boy.

She said: “I know a lot of the customers were voting for Oscar.

“Everybody knows him and we would not have got here without everyone’s support.”

Oscar has bounded home with the £500 cash prize and getting more than 3,200 votes.

Caroline said: “Oscar gets treated like royalty — he’s spoiled rotten.

“He’s also great with children.

“The money will help with his vet bills and we’ll also get him lots of treats.”

Meanwhile, Joanne Dunsmore was thrilled that her 10-month-old Jack Russell Collie pup Luke secured second place with 1,534 votes.

The mum-of-four from Port Glasgow, said: “It’s fantastic.
“It’s a big achievement for him.”

Joanne, 38, says her partner Charles McLelland, and children, Chloe, 19, Amy, 16, and twins Scott and Sophie, 12, are so proud of Luke.

She added: “He’s full of beans, he’s always playing in the house and he loves the outdoors.”

Luke bagged a £100 voucher from local business Little Stinkers.

In third place was Cooper, a cocker spaniel owned by Natalie Brown, who polled 1,396 votes.

They bagged a £50 voucher from Abbey Veterinary Group.
Colin Greer, who is a veterinary surgeon at Abbey vets, congratulated all the winners.

He said: “I think it’s a great competition.

“I’ve really enjoyed seeing all the photographs of the animals in the paper.

“It’s great that Oscar has won, especially as he is in the later stage of his life.”

James Harris, of Little Stinkers, said he was keen to support the competition following the death of his dog earlier this year.

He said: “My dog passed away in January so it was good to be involved in this.”