When you work in animal rescue, you never know what surprises might turn up on your doorstep. Last month, Wayne, a volunteer for Homeward Bound Cat Adoptions, realized this firsthand when he got to work and found a mysterious cardboard box abandoned outside the shelter door.
โThe only note was a [handwritten] statement on the box, โfree kittens,โโ Homeward Bound Cat Adoptions wrote in a Facebook post. โWe rushed them inside and immediately checked them out.โ
The kittens were babies โ only about 12 to 14 days old โ and their tiny eyes had barely opened.
Hearing about the kittens, Homeward Bound marketing manager Kimberly Wade felt a swell of mixed emotions.
โOn one hand, you are angry, upset, frustrated and baffled by how this could happen,โ Wade told The Dodo. โOn the other hand, you are grateful they were dropped off at our door compared to leaving them on the street.โ
The kittens enjoyed some time at the shelter, keeping warm inside an incubator before moving to a foster home. These days, the kittens continue to grow and regain their strength.
โThey are very lively and active now!โ Wade said.
Wade hopes this story encourages animal lovers to be more active in helping their local shelters. According to Wade, donating, sharing shelter stories on social media, volunteering and fostering can make all the difference.
โThese small actions make a big impact,โ Wade said. โ[They] help take the stress off animal shelters, letting them be there for the animals who truly need it the most.โ