Please help Salem if you can (warning: Fund Raising Link inside)
Hi Everyone.
I'm hoping this is okay, as I've seen others do this in the past. I've been around DU for a LONG time and have never needed to do this.
As some of you may know, my girlfriend and I do a lot of animal rescue work. Most of what I do is helping with transports of rescue animals and I just recently registered a domain for the rescue org we work with most and am building them a website (not ready for primetime yet, still just a shell and testing).
Recently, we were asked to help with a cat from Maine who had been attacked by a dog. We immediately drove up from Massachusetts to get this cat and get him to a vet. We were really shocked by what we found.
We were told that the cat "just needed a couple of stitches", but when we got him, it was apparent that he needed far more. He was very lucky not to lose his leg (or even his life, we half expected the vet to suggest euthanization). He was underweight, anemic and had a huge infected necrotic wound. He'd been living in some pretty horrible conditions (this is being investigated by authorities, so I can't offer any detail right now). We are in a bit of a bind with his care. The cost has been several thousand dollars and the rescue organization we work with is very strapped for funds. He is currently at Bulger Veterinary Hospital in Andover, Massachusetts for surgery and they've been wonderful.
The cost for his care so far is in the neighborhood of $5,000 which is what Labs and More Rescue and Adoption is trying to raise.
He's really an amazing cat and has a great prognosis after the surgery to close the wound (and, I believe reattach some muscle tissue that was damaged).
If you can help, it would be wonderful. He's really a wonderful cat, through all this, he's been VERY friendly towards people and still has no fear of dogs. (NOTE: He's also adoptable once he heals.
Thanks for reading, and once again, I hope this is okay to post. If not, mods, please let me know.
https://fundrazr.com/d17Lje
= new reply since forum marked as read
I remember talking to you long ago when I was still Ohioblues. You have always been a cat lover.
let's keep it visible 
We have to go pick him up around 11:00 and bring him home. . . hopefully the other cats won't stress him out too much.
I'll get more pictures too.
THANK YOU!
Hope we helped a little and thank you for all you do... 
What an incredible little guy, with such a strong spirit! And he is so courageous! Of the four cats I have had in my life, three have been black. I didn't choose them, they seem to find me. I hope this helped a little and I will be checking back, he deserves all the help we can give him! Thank you so much for all you do... 
Had to take him back to the vet last night, don't know how he did it, but he dislodged his fentanyl patch and was really uncomfortable. Had to take him and get a new one 
Poor guy.
So we did have to take him back to get the fentanyl patch replaced, but he's been fine since.
He does have this tendency to try to rush out of his room (we have him isolated from most of the other cats).
We also have to perform physical therapy with him 3 times a day (need fully extend that leg to keep the muscle limber for 10-15 full extensions 2-3 times daily).
He's being a real trooper and is still super friendly and affectionate. Overall, other than obvious discomfort when the stretching is going on, he acts completely unphased by the whole ordeal for the most part.
He'll be available for adoption once he's recovered if anyone is interested in a super affectionate and very cute black cat .
His vet bills are hovering around the $5-$6000 mark right now, so any little donation would be very helpful if anyone can spare it.
Thank you!!!!!!
The more visibility, the better. Donations are the only way we can keep saving these guys .
Poor Salem.
I'm glad he's on the road to recovery. Thanks for helping him!
It looks like what we thought was scabs forming on the incision in on small spot was actually necrosis . He needs to go back in for some debriding, a few more stitches and more antibiotics
This poor little guy. I'll get some more pictures up of him later today (not of the incision . . . ewwwww, you really don't want to see that).
Here's goes like another $1,000 or more on his bill.
After the set back the other day, the wound still isn't looking great. They've sent a culture out to figure out the best antibiotic to give him. They don't want to stitch the wound up again until they're sure the infection is gone, they don't want an abcess to form.
Keep thinking of him, and help if you can. This poor guy. . . I really, really hope we can get him better.
The cultures came back. Basically it wasn't healing well because the infection was resistant the the antibiotics they had him on.
They started him on a different antibiotic last night. Hopefully we'll see a big turnaround soon. His appetite is oustanding (which is a good sign), he eats a LOT.
So we'll see how it goes, he goes back for another follow-up on Tuesday.
Thank you for caring
And hoping to give your campaign for this courageous and wonderful cat a little more... from Felix and me. Thank you again for all you do. 
My heart just goes out to this brave little soul and I wish so much that he can have the kind of healthy life he deserves. And this thread also deserves more attention. So I'll continue to keep him in my thoughts and keep checking back, not to mention kicking this thread!
We really appreciate it
He's doing GREAT. He's basically taking over the house and pushing the other cats around at this point.
Other than spots where his fur is shorter, you can't tell he was ever injured now. He's gotten all mobility back and, IMO, surpassed every hope I had for him. He's doing fantastic.
He's also up for adoption if anyone is interested
The link works from 3 different machines and browsers here
https://fundrazr.com/d17Lje
If that doesn't work, maybe I can send some PayPal information or something, let me look into it.
Sorry, we couldn't complete your payment
Here's the problem:
1002 - Unable to connect to server.
You can try again in case the problem was temporary.
You can get help in our Help Center.
So I clicked on the Help Center link and it directed me to this:
http://support.fundrazr.com/hc/en-us/articles/201677469-I-received-a-1002-error-WePay-What-does-it-mean-
You can read it for yourself, but I think you need to "verify your account." I meant to contribute again, thanks for the reminder. So glad to know that Salem's doing well, and thank you for letting us know. I just hope that this is resolved so we can continue to contribute for this deserving and remarkable kitty. I hope you can get the deadline extended... And thank you for all you're doing!
So the account is accessible today! 
I'm just grateful to know that he's getting better, what a remarkable and brave little guy! Thank you, as always, for your determination and care for him. Please keep us updated. I'm honored to help, so thank you for the opportunity, as well... 
And I am more than willing to do what I can. You and Salem have the hard part...
Please post a fixed link. Thanks.
Response to ET Awful (Original post)
So glad I can help!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
You just made my day even brighter
I've given some updates on Salem in replies to replies, but not to the main thread. . .
So, here we go:
He's doing GREAT. He's basically taking over the house and pushing the other cats around at this point.
Other than spots where his fur is shorter, you can't tell he was ever injured now. He's gotten all mobility back and, IMO, surpassed every hope I had for him. He's doing fantastic.
He's also up for adoption if anyone is interested
You might let DUers know where he's located if you're looking to have him adopted. And thank you for all you've done for him... He's one amazing cat!
He's currently in Massachusetts, but transport can be arranged. If we can regularly get dogs transported from Virginia, Kentucky, etc. to Massachusetts and Maine, we can get him moved around .
I'm aware that animal rescue groups regularly have "underground railroads" for animals. My dog Sara was found as a stray on the streets of Ohio, was brought to a high kill shelter by a good Samaritan, and was a last minute addition in a transport to New York and Vermont where we have tougher animal protection laws. She was such a nice dog that I kept thinking that somebody must be missing her, but she found a forever home with me...
and is one of the friendliest cuddliest cats ever.
We still haven't hit the fundraising goal, but we're trying.
Thanks to everyone for the well wishes, prayers, donations, etc. . . . it really helped!
