Hi, we are Samantha and Matthew, parents to two amazing dogs and two amazing cats. Unfortunately, we, and our cat Penny, are in need of help.

Last night, we returned home from work to discover Penny was unable to walk normally - her hind legs wobbled and gave out underneath her. When we picked her up to see if she was hurt, she screamed out in pain. Immediately, we knew something was very wrong, and rushed her to the emergency vet in El Dorado Hills.

After looking at her, they told us they suspected a spinal cord injury. X-rays, bloodwork, and urinalysis did not show anything obvious. We were told that she would need to be transferred to UC Davis Veterinary Hospital to have an MRI, because a spinal cord injury was still very likely. We spent the night in the lobby at UC Davis, but they told us that she wouldn't be able to get an MRI until the morning. They suspect either a herniated disc, which would require surgery, or a spinal cord tumor, which would require chemotherapy.

So far, we have spent over $1,000 at the emergency vet, and $5,600 at UC Davis - but estimates for treatment are over $12,000, and may be more if the diagnosis is cancer. We are committed to doing everything we can for our sweet Penny. But both of our credit cards are close to being maxed out, and we do not have the cash to pay for these services up front. Even with her pet insurance, the payout limit is $2,500 - which will hardly put a dent in her treatment costs. UC Davis does not offer payment plans. We are hoping that with help from our community, we can at least pay off the services she has already had, so that we can move forward with treatment ASAP. My husband and I are horrified at the thought that we may not be able to provide her with what she needs to recover. Even with savings, pet insurance, and credit cards, we are struggling with the very high cost to treat her.

If you have read this far, thank you so much. Our pets mean the world to us. I adopted Penny almost six years ago from a shelter in Southern California and she has been my constant companion ever since. She has two doggie best friends who already miss her so much. She is the type of cat that never loses her temper with anyone, sits in your lap and purrs when you are having a bad day, and gives the dogs kisses while they sleep. She deserves every chance to come home healthy.