Diego is a 4-year-old Domestic Long Hair-Tuxedo Cat in Bristol, CT, who needs $2,000 for Hind Leg Amputation.

Diego was a rescue, that also rescued us in return. He came into our lives a couple of years ago when his original owner passed away. His owner after that owned a husky that was incompatible with Diego. Which is when we took Diego into our home and have loved him ever since.

We’re a home of 2 young boys, and myself and my husband. My 10 year old son David has severe autism and Diego is his emotional support animal. Diego is very special to us all but extremely special to our son. Diego sleeps in David’s bed every evening and snuggles David during meltdowns and episodes. He’s truly an irreplaceable animal to our family.

I always say that Diego is a cat who doesn’t like to be seen as a cat. He does not show cat like behaviors often and when he does, and someone sees it he stops as if he has been “caught being a cat.” Diego is too smart to chase a laser pointer, and considers himself to be cute but dignified. In a world of “who rescued who,” Diego has rescued us with all the love a giant fluff ball can give.

We discourage Diego getting outside. However Diego is very intelligent and has found ways out for fresh air but has always returned safely. Until 10/16/2023 Diego came home with an observable dislocated leg and fracture. It was determined that Diego’s leg had been trapped and twisted in a way to cause such an injury outdoors. He is receiving surgery at Pieper Memorial in Middletown, CT.

I just began a new job after working an unpaid externship for the medical field. In addition to this my spouse had been the only income and the timing of this simply could not have been any worse. Simply, we did not have the funds for this awful event to occur.