Russell the cat survived a housefire that reduced his home to smoldering ash and took the life of his dog sibling. His mom barely escaped with her life, only getting out of the house when firefighters rescued her because she was trying desperately to find Russell and her dog. When Russell wasn’t found after the fire, the worst was assumed. But four days later, Russell was discovered in the ruins, severely burned and crying for help.
He was rushed to the Animal Emergency Hospital and Urgent Care in Raleigh, North Carolina, and, there, he began the long road to recovery. With third degree burns on his face and body, Russell needed a lot of care, but the community rallied around him and raised funds to keep his treatments going. And, after a year and half of treatment with the clinic, Russell remained with them, becoming one of the best clinic cats to ever pad the halls.
Bringing Comfort and Love to Others
As he remembers the pain and fear of his first days there, Russell provides comfort to the other patients, letting them know everything is going to be alright. But getting here was a tough road.
“He was pretty far gone, and we didn’t know if he would make it,” Alan Wilford, told The Dodo. “He has taken a long time, but he has made a miraculous recovery.”
And though his injuries are ongoing and will still take more time to fully heal, Russell keeps hard at work, engaging with all the patients because, “He just wants to be with them.”
“I don’t know if he can sense that other animals are in pain or have stuff going on, but he does seem to have some weird knack for connecting with patients, even when you wouldn’t think they would.”
Russell Loves All Animals
It’s not just the other kitties Russell brings comfort to; one of his most recent healing buddies was Roscoe, a Chihuahua who found himself at the clinic after an attack injured his eye.
Squirrel, a lab hit by a car, also enjoyed the security of warm tabby fur at his side.
And Russell even befriended Darla the deer after she came to the clinic a tiny fawn whose mother went missing.
“I think he helps other animals feel at ease. We’re a clinic, so I’m sure he helps alleviate their stress,” explained Alan. “Most cats are independent and aloof, but he likes to be with other animals. And it’s not all about him. He really enjoys giving companionship to others.”
It was once the hope Russell would return to his mom, but with the extent of his injuries, Russell’s next chapter in life is with the animal lovers of the Animal Emergency Center. And he seems to be just fine with that as the sweet ginger cat pretty much adopted clinic staff.
“He’s a rock star here. Everyone wants to see him, and he just eats it up. I don’t know if he’d like being a normal house cat again, so we’d be happy to keep him as our clinic mascot.”
And the other patients of the Animal Emergency Center are all the richer for Russell’s regard!
H/T: www.gidypet.com
Feature Image: Animal Emergency Hospital and Urgent Care/Facebook
