A DISABLED dog who lives with his owners in Southbourne has been touching people’s hearts around the globe.

Nine-month-old Hungarian Vizsla, Gilbert, became known to thousands after he appeared on Channel 5 show, The Wonderful World of Puppies, in June.

He has no use of his back legs and uses a wheelchair to help him get about. He is also semi-incontinent.

Gilbert requires daily massage, physiotherapy and also attends hydrotherapy sessions every week with treatment costing around £1,000 each month.

Earlier this year, a GoFundMe page was set up to help raise £15,000 towards Gilbert's treatment.

Owners Jane and Kevin Bircumshaw had been told Gilbert had swimmer syndrome as a puppy, however, they said they later discovered that at five-days-old he suffered severe trauma to his spine and his right hip had been crushed.

Kevin said: “A friend of ours got one of the puppies from the litter and she showed us a video of him dragging his legs around and we just fell in love with him.”

Gilbert has already had two major operations but will need a further two and Jane and Kevin were told because of trauma to his spine, he wouldn't be able to stand or walk, but now they are doing everything they can to make his life better.

Kevin said: “He just thinks he’s a normal dog, he doesn’t know anything different from what he is. From day one, he knew we were trying to help him. When he’s having his treatment or a massage he just lies there and lets you get on with it.”

A Facebook page following Gilbert's progress was set up by friend Catherine Young in April which is being viewed by people across the world including Alaska, Canada, Australia, the USA, Singapore and South America.

Kevin said: "To be honest the feedback we get most from people is everyone is falling in love with him. We've been sent a massive embroidered bed from someone in America. He's probably got more toys than a child. He's actually a really famous little dog."

Last weekend, Kevin and Jane were presented with an award from the Hungarian Vizla Society.

He added: “We love him to bits, it doesn’t matter what happens to him we would never part with him.”