Help Pay for Hot Dog's Surgery

Hot Dog, the cat, has had a small mass in his neck for quite a few months. In the recents weeks is started growing, and after the vet's aspirated it to try to diagnose it, the mass started growing rapidly.  After his most recent trip to the vet and another aspiration, his health declined rapidly as the the mass expanded. I took him to the pet hospital when it was clear he was in a really bad way. I brought him to DoveLewis and found out that he had been hemorrhaging internally from the mass that had been aspirated.

He got the care he needed to stabilize him, including pain meds, a red blood cell infusion, and fluids, but we needed information in order to know whether or not we could address the real issue: a mass causing hemorrhaging in his neck. This required an ultrasound, and CT imaging. All of that work just to get the information to make an educated decision about how best to proceed, cost about $5,000.  

With the information gathered from those procedures the doctors determined that the mass was operable. Not without risk, but operable. The only chance at having a shot at living out the rest of his natural life is for Hot Dog is this surgery. Otherwise, we'd have to let him go without doing medically advisable surgery. I decided along with Hot Dog's doctor's to proceed with the surgery to give him the best shot possible for a longer life. 

Those of you who know me personally, or just through Facebook know that Hot Dog is so special to me.  Although he's only been in my life for the last three years (thanks to my housemate Brian for bringing the quirky and kind Hot Dog into my life!), we have formed a bond unlike any I have ever had with a pet. I know he won't live forever, but I want him to live as long as possible, and if the surgery goes well he could have a full recovery and finish out his natural born life.

I selfishly want more time with Hot Dog (who wouldn't), but I also know that I am not willing to let a price tag be a barrier to extending his life. His prognosis with surgery is good, and certainly better than without (which would mean euthanasia in the near future). I hope you can help pitch in to help me cover the cost of giving Hot Dog a chance at a longer life. 

I'm charging his care to my credit cards at this point so the money is needed as quickly as possible.  The surgery and recovery, without complications, is going to cost almost $6,000, and that's in addition to the nearly $5000 of procedures and care he has already received.  This is why I have the $10,000 fundraising goal. He's surgery on April 22nd will hopefully go smoothly and I won't incur a lot more costs, although there's no guarantee who won't need additional care.  

I would be so grateful to you for any amount you can contribute to helping Hot Dog. He's such a vocal, quirky, kind, gentle, and loving cat and he deserves the best shot at a longer life. I see every dollar donated to this cause as an act of love and will cherish it as such.