Dottie was found in a parking lot after something terrible had happened to her. Her hind feet and one ear had been cut off. She was rescued, and her caregiver and supporters are doing everything to help her.

Dottie was found by Edward “Red” Luckhard in the parking lot of a Florida hospital one day in March of this year. Onlookers and the Animal Control officer who arrived at the scene all felt that she should be put down, but Red couldn’t bear to let that happen so he took then injured young cat home with him to make sure she would be saved.

Luckily, Red knew Monica Imundi, an animal lover who has rescued, adopted and raised several special needs and amputee kitties of her own. Dottie was turned over to Monica, who have provided her with love, understanding and the medical care she needs. Monica started an online fundraiser to help raise money for whatever solution will best help restore Dottie’s compromised mobility and give her the best possible quality of life.

On May 7, Monica also started a Facebook page for Dottie, Dottie’s Page. Dottie’s story and her healing journey are now shared with the world through her page.

Dottie saw a specialist and was scheduled for a first phase surgery on May 14, for a plan to do muscle padding and then paw pad grafting to give her a weight bearing surface at the bottom of her little stumps. That appointment brought disappointing news, then a change in plan, since after viewing Dottie’s x-rays, it was determined that the trauma to her legs was so great that neither the muscle padding nore the paw pad grafts would succeed. The doctor said the pad tissue would not live.

After the initial disapointment, Monica’s thoughst turned to a prosthetics option, either prosthetic implants or the type that are externally attached. The plan for a prosthetics solution for Dottie is still in the early planning stages at this point. Monica is trying to contact famed UK surgeon Dr. Noel Fitzpatrick, who has successfully implanted “bionic” legs on cats. She has been in contact with people who make attached prosthetics, and is waiting to receive a kit from them that will enable her to make casts of Dottie’s legs that they can study to see if they can help. She is aware of wheeled carts, and hopes to be able to give Dottie some Leggings for Life.

While the exact plan to help Dottie regain her mobility still remains to be found, she will get the best possible solution for her condition and her needs, thanks to Monica Imundi, her doctors and the prosthetic specialists, and her many friends and supporters. Donations toward Dottie’s care, even the $5 offerings, are adding up. If Dottie is lucky enough to get the wide exposure that Corky has, perhaps even greater funds can be raised, if needed, and if Dottie proves to be a good candidate for bionic legs. We will provide updates on Dottie as the solution is found and implemented to help her to regain her mobility.

Dottie has already found safety and love, and she has become very attached to Monica. The videos below, made by Monica, tell a little bit about Dottie and show her sweet and loving nature.

Anyone wishing to donate toward Dottie’s mobility care can do so HERE or HERE.

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Video from May 16, showing Dottie’s affectionate nature and attachment to Monica.

