A Midlands couple are keen to thank 'all the wonderful people' in and around Abergavenny who helped them through a traumatic experience while they were holidaying on the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal writes ANNABEL HUGHES.

Jack and Sue Jarvis were just three days into a boating holiday from Gilwern when their rescue dog Charlie misjudged the front steps of the boat, landed awkwardly and broke both bones in his front left leg.

Moored at Llangynidr with little knowledge of the area and with their car back at Castle Narrowboats the couple had no idea where to find the nearest vet.

"A phone call to boatyard owner Sharon Mills confirmed that we needed to take Charlie to Crickhowell some 20 minutes away," said Jack.

"In stepped Jane and Andrew, who were working on their narrow boat moored just along the bank from us. Jane quickly got her car and drove us into Crickhowell, waited for us while the vet examined Charlie and confirmed that his leg was broken.

"Gary the vet said Charlie would need x-rays at the Abbey Veterinary Centre in Abergavenny. He told us he'd meet us there and arrange things.

"Jane then offered to take us back to our boatyard to pick up our car so that we could get Charlie to the animal hospital.

"She was so kind and calming, refusing to take any petrol money. Sharon from the boatyard came out to meet us - with a bottle of wine for Jane as a 'Thank You'.

"Another 20 minute drive and, after seeing the vet again, Charlie was taken off for the x-ray, which confirmed clean breaks in both the ulna and radius in his left foreleg."

The couple were told that Charlie was going to need an operation to insert a metal plate - either in Abergavenny or at their own vets. They couple were so impressed with the way things had been handled that they decided on the former option.

Leaving Charlie at the surgery, they drove back to the boatyard where owner Nick Mills was waiting to give them a lift to their moored narrowboat.

"How strange it seemed that we were only 20 minutes away from the boat by car yet by canal it would take us more than four hours hours to get back to base!" said Jack.

The following afternoon the animal hospital performed the operation and on Friday morning, the last day of the Jarvis's holiday, Charlie was ready to go home.

"We are so very, very grateful to everyone that helped us; you're all stars! In this day and age it's heart warming to come across such kindness and certainly restores one's faith in human nature.

"Charlie is recovering well and is due to have his stitches out next week and is already able to walk on the injured leg.

"This is one narrow boat holiday that we will never forget, not for Charlie's horrific accident but for the kindness of perfect strangers in our hour of need. We are truly humbled!" saisd Jack.

Sharon Mills of Castle Narrowboats said: "We like to think that people are having a good time on a boat they've hired from us. The little dog was very lively when he first went on board - jumping about all over the place. He was very subdued when we saw him the next time!

"When you're on a narrowboat you're in the middle of the countryside with no other means of transport nearby so we're always happy to help anyone who's stranded. We've taken people to the doctor's and to hospital before now - but never to the vets.

"We're delighted there was a happy ending."