Isaiah Barber

Description: My cat Peter is my pride and joy—he’s a sweet, spicy, and endlessly curious boy who brings so much comfort and happiness to my life. Just recently, I noticed he wasn’t feeling well. He was lethargic, kept close to me and my dad, and made frequent trips to the litter box, struggling to pee. He even peed on my bed twice to let me know something was wrong. After watching him try and fail to use the bathroom every ten minutes, I called the vet, who told me to bring him in right away. I rushed Peter to the vet, a half hour away, and after examining him, they found crystals blocking his bladder and urethra. The vet told me he needed emergency treatment and required a large upfront payment—if I couldn’t pay, they would have to put him down. There was no way I was letting that happen to my four-year-old boy. Peter means everything to me, especially as he helps me cope with depression and anxiety. I stayed at the vet for hours, then was told I needed to drive him two hours to Burlington for 24-hour care. That visit added even more to the bill, but I did whatever it took to get him the help he needed. I had no choice but to put the emergency bills on a credit card, which has made things even more overwhelming. Peter is now home, but he needs ongoing medication and special food to help dissolve the crystals in his bladder. He’s still having some trouble and doesn’t like the new food, but I’m doing everything I can for him. Peter is my comfort buddy—he’s smart, playful, and always by my side, whether he’s making biscuits in the morning, talking to me, or exploring outside. He’s my good boy, and I love him more than anything. Any help to cover his emergency bills, medication, and follow-up care would mean the world to us. Thank you for reading and caring about Peter’s story.