Hello! My name is Christian ... but some of you may know me as the Obscurist Tourist, a friend to some and an ally of all animals. Even more, some of you may know or even have met my beloved cat Charlie (who I often talk and post about). A few months back, she developed some swelling on the side of her little face. It didn't seem like that big of a deal, and after some initial X-rays and vet visits, they could not determine what was causing the swelling. After many more vet visits and myriad blood tests, it was determined that she would require a CT scan to see what was truly going on. When the results came back, I was told she had some tumors under her ear with a bigger mass growing under those. Further consultation led to the decision that she will need surgery to remove all of these. The prognosis is positive, so my decision to go ahead with the surgery was an absolute no-brainer.

If you have ever owned a pet, you can understand that vet visits are not cheap - and this particular process has been another level of monetary burden. It absolutely guts me that I even have to ask friends for assistance, but I have been put in the unenviable position of choosing love over money. It is unfair that vets can hold us to such emotional ransom, knowing they can charge exorbitant prices for us to hold on to our little friends - but it is what it is. Some of you may chime in with "why don't you have pet insurance?" - but that is neither here nor there. Pet insurance is like any insurance, and no matter how much you pay into it - it doesn't ensure that you will be reimbursed for costs incurred.

Having already spent over $6,500 on vet visits, another $8,000+ is now required for Charlie to have the surgery. Following her surgery, there is the possibility of post-op care and even more bills. The costs are an extremely heavy burden for me, but nowhere near the emotional toll this has taken. Charlie is still relatively young and full of life, so the idea of putting her down is not even an option for me. She is the sweetest, most loving cat in the world - and one of the few things I can really rely on to bring me joy on the daily. I would do anything for her, so that's where I have to put my pride aside and ask for help. If you have (or have had) a beloved animal friend, you will understand where I'm coming from. If you do not own a pet, I don't expect you to understand.

There is absolutely no pressure to donate, but just know that anything helps. Thank you so much! And long live Charlie. ❤️