JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A local clinic is treating a Siberian tiger for a cancerous toe.
"Topaz" the tiger lives at the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary on the Northside of Jacksonville.
She was transported to the Southeast Veterinary Oncology and Internal Medicine Clinic in Orange Park.
Veterinarians there and in Kingsland, Georgia, donated their time to help "Topaz."
They sedated the 16-year-old golden tabby, carried her into the clinic and prepared her for radiation.
The lymphoma is terminal but they are trying to prolong her life, while choosing "quality of life" over quantity.
"She's got a tumor in her toe and in her lymph node and we're doing everything we can to try to make her more comfortable for what time we have left with her," veterinary oncologist Tracy LaDue said.
After one dose of radiation, the tumor is already smaller.
"We're all very pleased," LaDue said. "We're trying to help all the volunteers out at Catty Shack because they dedicate so much time and they love their cats."
If you would like to help, you can donate to the nonprofit Catty Shack by going to its website, cattyshack.org.