In mid-summer 2021, I adopted Blue Dot Jaywalker — affectionately referred to as "Dot" — a 40-year-old Sonoran Desert Tortoise. At her first pre-brumation check-up, I learned that she had a mycoplasma infection and a large bladder stone, both fairly common ailments of captive Desert Tortoises. However, Dot's stone is, as the current vet says, "massive." It's taken a couple of years and some x-rays for me to understand the implications of such a large stone. Imagine a bowling ball rolling around in your belly.

Although Dot is otherwise healthy, the pressure inside the shell of a bladder stone this size is likely, eventually, to paralyze her back legs, trap an egg inside her (were she to produce an egg), or cut off urinary and bowel function, which would result in death.

There's no way to tell how much discomfort she's in; tortoises are so dang stoic. In hopes she'll live out the estimated 15-35 years she has left of life, I'm choosing surgery. The success rate for the procedure is high; it's just going to take weeks of special care for her recovery and a good chunk o' change.

Thus, I'm turning to friends and fans of Blue Dot Jaywalker to raise a portion of the $4K needed. I don't need it all; I just need a bit of assistance. Dot pics and video have brought many people joy and delight. Serving as custodian to this tiny dinosaur has been a constant source of wonder for me. Please help us both get through this hard time.

Thank you!

KArizona & Dot