A WONDER dog who has become an inspiration to thousands – canine and human – is set to be honoured in one of the most prestigious ways.

Max, the widely-loved Springer Spaniel, was introduced to the world as a lifeline to owner Kerry Irving, who adopted the friendly pooch after a car accident in 2006 left him in excruciating pain, physically and mentally.

The loyal four-legged friend, nicknamed Max the Miracle Dog, gave Kerry the boost he needed, and helped him endlessly on his road to recovery – and has been famous for his caring nature ever since.

And with this heartwarming tale under his collar, along with a £244,000 fundraising record and some very royal fans, a GoFundMe has been created by Kerry to raise funds for a bronze statue in Max’s honour.

The tribute will stand in Keswick’s Market Square, where the Springer-superstar met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their visit to the town in June 2019, and the proud owner’s original target of £15,000 has been just a little bit blown out of the water.

With almost £26,000 already raised in just one day, and more cash being donated each hour, it’s clear that Max’s inspiration has deeply affected the entire Cumbrian community.

Sharing his reason for setting up the fundraiser, Kerry wrote on his GoFundMe page: "Max helped me in my darkest hour, he gave me strength when I was at my lowest ebb and since then Max has helped thousands of people around the world, he makes people smile.

"Max has helped raise over £244,000 for various charities including, the PDSA (Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals), Mountain Rescue, The National Trust, Fix The Fells, Service Dogs UK, Scotty's Little Soldiers and Help For Heroes and many more."

He continued: "Over the years Max has travelled the country and met thousands of people, visited local schools, businesses and our story has become a platform to help hundreds of people globally, talk about their own personal life stories.

"The statue will be in honour of what Max has given to us all, inspiration, the gift of love, hope and happiness.

"This is our way of recognising all the good that Max has done for so many, our town and in promoting the beautiful Lake District as a destination."

And with the funds already stretching high above the original target, Kerry added that any leftover donations will be donated directly to the PDSA, ensuring each and every penny is put to good use.

To help see Max become a key feature of Keswick's town centre, visit uk.gofundme.com/f/a-permanent-bronze-statue-for-max.