Animal rescue organizations are on a mission to end euthanasia in shelters across the country. The no-kill initiative is making leaps and bounds, dropping the average number of animals euthanized in a year from 1 million to 800,000 in 2017.
This means animals who might have never had a chance at life are living happily in forever homes. Thanks to hard working volunteers and rescue staff, cats and dogs are escaping death and finding happiness. Henry the cat is one of these second chance animals. And when the little cat was rescued from death row, he couldn’t have been more thankful.
Henry’s Fate Hangs in the Balance
In New Castle, Australia, the animal shelters were full and the pound was overflowing with stray and lost animals. Henry the cat was one of the animals caught up in the overcrowding at the pound. After many long days and nights in a cage all alone, the staff at the pound made the decision to cull some of the overcrowding and Henry was one of the unlucky lot scheduled for euthanasia.
The pound where Henry was located put out a notice to local animal rescues. Henry the cat had been scheduled for death on that coming Friday unless a group could take him. Surely, pound staff didn’t want to put down animals because of overcrowding, but the shelters in the area were stuffed to capacity and the pound was too full with animals who hadn’t found their forever homes.
But, the dedicated staff and volunteers of Cat Rescue Newcastle said, “Not on our watch!”
screenshot, Cat Rescue Newcastle/YouTube
In a post for the Animal Rescue Site, CRN volunteer Adelle shared, “That’s when one of our beautiful foster carers, Michelle, stood up and said that she had room in her house but needed transport assistance and that’s when we came together as a team to save this beautiful boy.”
The clock was ticking though; Henry’s days were numbered and quickly running short.
Countdown to Rescue
With Henry’s euthanasia time set, he didn’t have long to wait. But, Adelle jumped in her car and made the trek to save the sweet boy. She would happily transport a cat in need to his new safe space with foster mom Michelle. Arriving with only hours to spare, Adelle rescued Henry from his dire fate.
The lonely cat was now safe and delivered from the sad truth of overcrowding.
screenshot, Cat Rescue Newcastle/YouTube
Once in the car, Adelle afforded Henry some stretching room by releasing him from his crate. Needless to say, Henry knew things had changed and he was a happy cat. So joyful and relieved in fact, the cat turned cuddly in an instant, showering Adelle in thankful kisses. And the kisses just kept coming…
screenshot, Cat Rescue Newcastle/YouTube
“The moment I opened his cat carrier, Henry walked up onto my shoulder and gave me the most heartwarming kitty kiss I had ever received since becoming a foster carer.”
screenshot, Cat Rescue Newcastle/YouTube
“The love and affection he displayed was breathtaking and I just knew in my heart that he knew what had just happened,” Adelle wrote. “He was finally rescued and this was his way of saying ‘thank you.’”
“This is what we live for at CRN!”
Us too! We love to hear of cats finding their second chances in forever homes where love and safety are plenty.
H/T: www.theanimalclub.net
Feature Image: screenshot, Cat Rescue Newcastle/YouTube