Hi folks,

My mom and I are raising funds to pay for critical surgery on our family's new rescue cat, Lemon Drop (story below). Her left back leg is all messed up, and the vet says her chances of having a long and comfortable life will depend on getting the leg amputated soon. Estimates for the cost of this surgery are in the $1-2.5k range, but we'll update the fundraising goal as soon as we hear more from our vet. More details on Lemon and her story from my mom below. We'll be hugely grateful if you can chip in anything to help out this kitty. Thanks much!

This is Lemon Drop, whom I adopted after my son Sam found her, one cold rainy January night in LA, alone under a bush, more or less on death's doorstep. Sam and his girlfriend fostered her for a time, but could not keep her, so I stepped in at that point. How could I resist such a punim? And she's the most affectionate, sweet, and trusting critter, which is all the more remarkable considering her early days on the mean streets of the big city. Anyway, she's as healthy and happy and spry as can be, with the exception of her wonky hind leg, which seems to have gotten broken, and then healed badly, probably not long after she was born. Two vets have recommended amputation as the best way to deal with the dead weight that her back leg represents. (She is remarkably nimble on three legs.) ... I'm pretty sure it will result in musculoskeletal issues soon enough. She tries to hold it aloft most of the time, and it pulls down on her hip, and it's seemingly uncomfortable and a lot of work for her. And now she's getting a fair amount of fluid build-up on the "knee." I hate to put her under the knife, but I think it is probably the most merciful thing, in the long run.