Help Gus Get the Surgery He Needs

Hello, my name is Dorthea, and I'm reaching out with a heavy heart in the hopes that you might be able to help my beloved cat, Gus, get the dental care he desperately needs. You may remember that I created a GoFundMe in July 2025 to help with his medical expenses. At the time, I was living in a domestic violence shelter, and my life was turned upside down. My hours at work were drastically reduced, and I had to search for a new job, leaving me with very little to support Gus and myself.

During that difficult time, Gus was also struggling with a recurring UTI that seemed impossible to treat. Between July and October, I had to take him to the vet six separate times—and the bills quickly piled up. The total cost for his UTI treatments alone was over $1,600, not including the ongoing costs of his monthly vet care plan and prescription food. To make ends meet, I used the funds raised through GoFundMe to cover those vet visits and medications, which meant that Gus's dental surgery had to be put on hold. (Down below at the bottom of this text, I am including screenshots of all of his vet bills with some sensitive info redacted for proof.)

As hard as it was, I had no choice but to focus on getting Gus back to health first. The vets believe his UTI was stress-related, likely caused by the trauma of our living situation. He’s now on Prozac to help him manage, and I’m so relieved to see that he’s doing so much better. After months of uncertainty, we finally have an apartment, and Gus is thriving in his new, calmer environment. His health has improved, and I can see his true personality shining through again. But there's still one last hurdle to overcome: the dental surgery that Gus needs to live a happy, healthy life.

I’ve been quoted $471.20 to $589.00 for the dental surgery, but thanks to the kindness of the organization RedRover, they’ve generously granted me $350 towards the cost. This leaves me with about $117.80 to cover on my own. On top of that, I need to arrange transportation to and from the vet, which involves taking Uber rides (as I don’t have a car). Each ride costs between $30-$40, and I'll need to make two trips: one for blood work and the other for the surgery itself. So, the transportation cost adds up to about $120.

I’m asking if you could find it in your heart to help cover the remaining gap for Gus’s surgery, as well as the transportation costs to ensure he gets the care he deserves. Gus is more than just a pet—he’s my emotional support animal, my constant companion, and the light of my life. We've been through so much together, and I will go to any length to make sure he gets the treatment he needs.

The total amount I’m hoping to raise is $237.80, which will cover the remaining balance for the surgery and the transportation costs. Any donation, big or small, would mean the world to me and Gus. I’ve included pictures of the vet invoices with sensitive information redacted as proof of the expenses I've already incurred.

Please, consider donating today to help me keep Gus healthy and by my side. Without him, I wouldn’t have made it through the hardest times of my life, and I’m determined to give him the care and love he deserves.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for any support you can offer.

With love,

Dorthea and Gus