A tiny kitten’s life was almost tragically cut short after it ended up in a trash compactor, but a quick-thinking employee managed to save the day.
Earlier this month, Mark Motta, who works for the Burlington County Regional Recycling Program in New Jersey, was going about his usual recycling route when something out of the ordinary caught his eye. Amidst the heaps of garbage, he spotted a small kitten, drenched in oil, in immediate danger of being crushed by the compactor’s blades.
Being an avid cat lover, Motta wasted no time springing into action. “I shut everything off and climbed in the back of the truck to get her,” he shared with the Asbury Park Press.
Once the kitten was safely out of harm’s way, Motta took her back to his workplace, where he carefully cleaned her up. After a thorough check-up at the vet, the kitten, now named “Squishy,” was fostered by one of Motta’s colleagues, the company’s safety officer.
Squishy’s story didn’t end there. In a heartwarming twist, she recently paid a visit to the man who saved her life. Rise Again Animal Rescue shared on Facebook that Squishy is doing well after her ordeal and even returned to the office to meet her rescuer. The post included photos of Motta holding and petting the little kitten.
Despite the praise he has received for his heroic actions, Motta remains humble. “Just doing my part for the cats,” he told the Asbury Park Press. “Just want her to get a good home. She deserves it.”
Rise Again Animal Rescue has been fundraising to cover Squishy’s medical expenses. The plan is to have her spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped once she’s old enough, after which she will be put up for adoption.
The National Park Service has a plan to potentially euthanize up to 170 feral cats under the guise of nuisance control. Demand a policy that protects these cats!
It’s still unclear how Squishy ended up in the recycling bin—whether it was a tragic accident or a case of abandonment—but what matters most is that she is now safe, and her future looks promising.
A big thank you goes out to Mark Motta for his life-saving actions! We’re all hoping that Squishy finds her forever home very soon.