***CURATIVE, LIFESAVING SURGERY for DULCE***

DULCE needs curative, lifesaving surgery for an unusual condition! The thymus gland sounds familiar, right?! Mammals are born with one, which sits between the lobes of the lungs and it is instrumental in building one's immune system. In young adulthood, when it's no longer needed, it gets replaced by fatty tissue and dissipates--except in rare cases where tissue remains which can develop in to a mass called a thymoma. The great news is that DULCE's thymoma is benign and has been caught unusually early--so early that the surgeon said a CT scan is not required! The bad news is that it requires costly specialty surgery to remove it due to it's sensitive location near the heart and lungs in the thoracic cavity. If the mass is not removed it will continue to grow, eventually causing respiratory distress and creating a high-risk medical emergency (--this very surgery, but with serious complication) or death.

DULCE was rescued by Tucson CARES along with her beloved companion BOSSANOVA who she was turned in to the municipal shelter with. They are deeply bonded and were said to be cared for by an elderly man who fed them for years on his back porch. When he had to go to assisted living, his next of kin brought them to the shelter. Due to stress, they did not eat well. In combination with the discovery of the  mass, she was placed on a deadline.  DULCE and 'BOSSY' are now flourishing physically and emotionally in the care of their wonderful foster. 

Dulce will see an ophthalmologist too in case anything can help her eyes which are scarred from a previous bout with herpes and she also needs dentistry, but this time sensitive, curative and lifesaving surgery must come first. The surgical estimate is $3924 to $5096. Our goal is to raise a portion of that. Please help DULCE  live a full life and allow us to continue helping others.

Tucson CARES (Companion Animal Rescue, Education and Support) is a small but mighty, volunteer run 501(c)3 non-profit. We are dedicated to treating the treatable and saving the savable through direct action and advocacy, the rescue of critically ill and injured, owner retention, Trap Neuter Return, community outreach, field work and much more. We are instrumental in improving the quality of care (and live release rate) at our municipal animal care and control facility, for pets and for feral and Community Cats.

Tender gratitude and with hope and determination for the animals! Together we can truly save the savable.

visit us on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TucsonCARES/ 

Our mailing address is P.O. Box 41702, Tucson, AZ, 85717. Contributions are fully tax deductible.