THEY DO NOT JUST DIE WITHOUT US, THEY SUFFER HOURRENDOUSLY.

Two days ago, Geoffrey walked into the garden of one of our foster homes, Barbara’s, and quite literally asked for help.

A six-year-old, unneutered male cat. Another boy failed on the streets.

We thought Geoffrey would need the usual: a health check, bloods, castration, vaccinations, a microchip and then the chance to start again.

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

Geoffrey has a diaphragmatic hernia.

His abdominal organs have pushed through his diaphragm and are sitting up inside his chest, against his heart and lungs, when they should be safely inside his abdomen.

It sounds horrific, because it is.

But Geoffrey’s condition is operable. He has a chance.

And this is where we desperately need you.

We know we're always asking for money. We know there is always another emergency on our page.

But that's because there genuinely is always another emergency at our door.

Right now Joshua is in hospital fighting FIP.

Four tiny kittens are in hospital after being dumped outside a pet shop with severe diarrhoea.

We have colonies containing hundreds of cats still needing trapping and neutering.

We currently have 48 end-of-life animals in our care cats and dogs with kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, arthritis and other chronic illnesses who deserve comfort, medication and dignity for however long they have left.

And while all of this is happening, we're trying to catch another cat in Ealing whose eye is literally hanging out.

And now there is Geoffrey.

Our phone doesn't stop.

The emergencies don't stop.

But our money does.

Our veterinary bills are now regularly reaching £20,000–£30,000 A MONTH — if we're lucky.

And that doesn't include the mountain of medication we use.

It doesn't include food.

It doesn't include litter.

It doesn't include all the everyday costs of keeping hundreds of vulnerable animals safe.

This is not sustainable.

Protected Paws has become known as the rescue that takes the sick ones. The old ones. The broken ones. The ones requiring surgery. The ones other people simply cannot afford to help.

We're incredibly proud of that.

But being the rescue that says “yes” comes at an enormous cost.

Because what are we supposed to do when a cat like Geoffrey arrives?

Look at a six-year-old cat with a surgically treatable condition and say, “Sorry, the vet bill is too high”?

Agree to euthanasia when an operation could give him years of life?

We can't.

These animals have already been let down by humans.

We are just a small rescue fighting what increasingly feels like a huge war — and right now, we desperately need an army standing behind us.

If you've ever respected the work Protected Paws does, followed one of our animals' stories, adopted from us, fostered for us or simply believed that these animals deserve better, please help us now.

£2. £5. £10. Whatever you can spare.

Thousands of people giving a couple of pounds could genuinely keep our doors open and keep us saying YES to animals like Geoffrey.

And if you can't donate, please share this post. Sharing costs absolutely nothing and could put Geoffrey's story in front of someone who can help.

We've also created a new Amazon Wishlist with the everyday essentials our animals desperately need. If you would rather send food, litter or supplies directly, that helps us enormously too every item donated means money can be kept aside for veterinary care.

Please help us keep fighting.

For Geoffrey.

For Joshua.

For those four tiny hospitalised kittens.

For our 48 end-of-life animals.

For the cat we're desperately trying to catch in Ealing.

For the colony cats still waiting.

And for the next animal who will inevitably need us tomorrow.

We don't want to stop saying yes.

Please don't let money be the reason we have to.

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Protected Paws Animal Rescue

Registered Charity No. 1202369