Long-time donor, first-time user of GoFundMe. And now I’m in need of help.

On August 25th, I was driving home from work when the tiniest little kitten darted across my car and found himself now on the other side of a busy boulevard, against a chain-link fence with tarps by parked tractor trailers and with a look of terror on his little face. I kept driving, said a cuss word, and made a U-turn. I parked on the grass with cars zooming by and called for the baby. I saw the tarp move and heard his sweet cries, looked under the tarp, picked him up to put in my car, and off we went to my backyard, which is a feline sanctuary. He quickly got acclimated with his surroundings and new friends, never noticing that he was badly injured. I thought all was well in the morning, so off to work I go. Eight hours later, I returned and called for the newest resident. He came from the woods behind my home, making his baby cries and running to me. I just love how he already runs to me, I thought, until I noticed I finally saw his injuries. It was later discovered that the kitten already had these injuries when I rescued him off that busy road by a video I had recorded of him once he was in the yard that night. Either something got to him, got hit by a car or he got stuck in something, but his tail became ungloved. Horrific and infested with maggots, I rushed him to the ER where an emergency consultation was made, and antibiotics and pain meds were prescribed. I was charged a “compassion fee” because he was a stray, and I agreed to schedule surgery immediately for his tail to be amputated. Weeks ago was his surgery, and he did beautifully. While under anesthesia, he was neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. I now have a seventh cat, and his name is Danny Boy, because where I found him on that busy boulevard is a local watering hole named Danny’s. He also goes by Danny Bob because of his bob of a behind.

The next morning, I noticed the other injury for the first time. Danny was favoring his right hind leg; there was a bit of lameness. His limp was higher up on his hip joint, however, like how I walk with a limp because of my hip arthritis. It looked stiff. He hasn’t shown any symptoms of pain and still runs and plays, so I took him in for x-rays, and the news is bad. He fractured his femur and the conservative route won’t benefit him. They will need to remove the little ball in the hip socket, and then scar tissue will take the place of his bone. He will live a long and healthy life, but he needs this surgery. This tiny creature just went under anesthesia, and I hate for him to have to do it again. I’m concerned about his heart, even if he’s pretty scrappy.

The cost so far has been roughly $700, which is a lot, but I managed it. The future costs will be around $4,500. That is too much for me, and I need help. I work so much already for everyday expenses, my mortgage and have had to take off from work for Danny’s doctor appointments. He saw the specialist last week and now I will be scheduling surgery. I will also be applying for a possible grant.

This is a huge unexpected expense on a kitten I just met, and for the kitten, he’s had one hell of a rough go at life in his first 13 weeks.

Please help Danny Boy if you can. I’m humbled to ask, and any amount we would be most grateful for.