It’s no secret that animal shelter volunteers do more for rescue animals in a week than most of us could hope to do in a lifetime. Even though so many people would love to help animals in this way, volunteering isn’t physically, mentally, or financially feasible for everyone.
Fortunatley, there are so many ways to help animals in need. You can donate pet supplies, donate money, or consider adopting your next pet. For some Good Samaritans like Southern California resident Jess Estrada, however, helping a rescue pet can also be a complete surprise.
Jess was walking at Box Springs Mountain Park near Los Angeles on June 4 when she witnessed the unthinkable. A woman tossed a tabby cat out of the car window and quickly drove away. Luckily, Jess didn’t hesitate to jump into action for the abandoned cat, and she turned into his hero when he needed it the most.
It’s a good thing Jess and her gentle donkeys were in the right place at the right time. This shy tabby cat blends into California’s golden landscape a bit too well. With critters like coyotes and snakes in the area, who knows how long he would have been fending for himself before something happened?
When Ranger Jay arrived, she confirmed that this nervous kitty was also a senior cat. He also has a bobbed tail, which could have resulted from a number of accidents and injuries, but his most special feature is his resilient spirit.
Related: Shelter Cat Who’s Been Waiting Over 1100 Days for a Home Couldn’t Be More Heartbreaking
One commenter said what everyone was thinking when they wrote, “This is why pet microchips should be mandatory. Sue me, hate me, whatever you want, but if you illegally dump an animal you should be blacklisted from shelters and breeders for life.”
Although the woman who dumped him hasn’t been located, the rescued cat arrived safely at Riverside County Animal Shelter not long after he was abandoned. His shelter friends, who estimate that he’s about 7 years old, also named him Joey and reported that he did well during his neutering procedure. Now, he’s ready to find a loving forever home!
Joey is waiting for his ‘purrfect’ person to find him at Riverside County Animal Control in Jurupa Valley, California. If his adoption profile is still on their website, he’s still there—so let’s not keep him waiting for long!
Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.
Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.