A 1 month-old kitten, a feisty tabbycat and a black lab pup…these 3 animals have something unexpected in common. In the same week, they were all diagnosed with needing specialty surgery.

Link, the gray kitten, was born with a condition known as funnel chest. His sternum and rib cage curve inward and don’t leave enough room for his lungs and heart to grow. Funnel chest is often fatal unless the kitten gets surgery right away, and at 1 month old, Link came to us just in time. We sent him to a specialist for a costly but life-saving surgery to enlarge his chest cavity, and he is now recovering in a loving foster home.

The young black lab, Bibimbap, came to us as a stray with a severe limp. X-rays showed fragments of hardware loose in her leg. She clearly had a major surgery during her puppyhood, but the metal pins and plates had failed and were causing her pain with every step. The surgery she needed was outside the scope of our shelter, and supporters like you helped cover the cost of a special operation to save her leg.

Finally, Biscuits. She’s a confident feline who loves to play and pounce, but her heart wouldn’t handle it forever. Biscuits had the highest possible grade of heart murmur, and after consulting with a cardiologist, we scheduled her for heart surgery in order to have the best chance of living a full and happy life.

You make it possible for us to respond to life-threatening conditions like these with confidence, getting animals the care they need – whether it is within our own veterinary clinic, or an outside practice. Thank you for helping to make these three surgeries possible!