Espresso needs your help

Last week, Island resident and tireless SPCA Monteregie volunteer, Angela Hunter, received a call that a cat was hit by a car in Greenfield Park, in the South Shore, and was sitting on a balcony meowing for two days straight for help. The cat had his swollen paw up in the air and was calling out for help, but no one responded. Finally, someone emailed Angela and the SPCA Monteregie volunteers and they arranged to pick up the cat and take it to Dr. Arseneau, a nearby veterinarian.

The verdict? The cat had a sever fracture and there were three options: 1) euthanize him, 2) amputate the cat's leg ($1,500) or 3) perform expensive surgery to place plates and pins in his leg for $2,000.

"The cat is a regular purr machine and he seemed so grateful for our help, we just didn't have the heart to euthanize him," explains Angela. "We decided that he should have the surgery."

Along with a new lease on life, the cat has also been given a new name. Since he's small and brown, the cat was baptized… Espresso. The volunteers have found him a foster home and he will remain there until a permanent home has been found for him.

In the meantime, the cost remains for this surgery and volunteers are scrambling to raise the funds, at a time when the no-kill shelter is already strapped for cash.

Any help by Island animal lovers would be greatly appreciated. Angela has set up a website www.helpespresso.com) and it will be up and running by the end of the week along with the Pay Pal button for online donations. Island residents are encouraged to donate.