Zoey is a lively, playful, and incredibly sweet 9 year old girl who desperately needs surgery. She has a fast growing, but non-cancerous tumor just above her front right paw, and without surgery she faces euthanasia.

Unfortunately, because of the size and location of the tumor, it's removal requires amputation of one of her toes and a skin graft, so it can only be done by a specialist. Should the tumor have grown inwards, amputation of her right paw in it's entirety is possible.

Veterinary costs are high where we live (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada); and the estimate for Zoey's operation is approximately $10,000. We have gone to several different veterinarians and all agree that only the specialist can perform it due to the complexity, so there aren't any more affordable options.

Unfortunately, our finances at the moment are extremely tight and we simply don't have the money for Zoey's operation.

Although the tumor (plasmacytoma) is non-cancerous and unlikely to spread, it is very fast growing, and in the last week it has split open and bleeds constantly. Without surgery, Zoey will face euthanasia possibly in the next few weeks as it continues to grow and becomes unmanageable and painful.

In spite of her current situation, Zoey is still the same sweet, loving and happy girl we know. As I write this, she is happily playing in the snow with her little brother and keeping the backyard free of squirrels and raccoons - her main mission in life!

It's breaking my heart that we might have to say goodbye when she is otherwise so healthy and happy, so this is our last hope.

I know times are tough for most people these days, and I'm just a stranger on the internet. But I can promise you, Zoey is worth it! She's brought us years of happiness and love, and I truly believe if we can remove the growth, she'll have at least a few more happy years. If you can afford to donate, please - anything will help!