03/28/2026
The Colby Animal Foundation recently helped an owner pay for testing for her 2.5 year old cat named Rusty. 🐈
Rusty presented to his family veterinarian with difficulty breathing. His owner wanted to help him, but was not in a position to afford basic diagnostics like chest x-rays. Without x-rays, the initial concern was that Rusty may have pneumonia or asthma which are the most common causes of respiratory difficulties in cats. 🙏.
With the help of The Colby Animal Foundation, we were able to provide funding for x-rays, which revealed the true cause of his condition. Rusty had a diaphragmatic hernia, a condition where organs from the abdomen are pushed into the chest cavity, preventing the lungs from fully expanding and making it very difficult to breathe. 💔
While this was not the outcome anyone hoped for, having a diagnosis allowed Rusty’s owner to fully understand what he was facing. Given the severity of the condition, the prognosis, and the financial burden of surgery, she made the incredibly difficult decision to humanely euthanize him.
Sometimes the greatest gift we can give is clarity. In Rusty’s case, his owner was able to make an informed and compassionate decision for him.
We hope with additional donations and fundraising efforts, The Colby Animal Foundation will have the means to help more animals…and have the ability to contribute to more advanced procedures for pets. Please consider donating to help a future animal in need. 💜🐾💜
Our board of directors is made up of 100% volunteers. All donations go directly to helping animals in need. Every donation helps.