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While I was at work, I received a call from our shop. Yet another kitten had been found. Jack, also known as Peter Parker, was hiding inside the engine compartment of a forklift. She was covered in grease, oil, and fleas.

Photo: Jocelyn

I wrapped the kitten in a towel, gave her a little food, and kept her in a box beneath my desk until it was time to go home. She seemed content to be safe and warm and quietly slept through the rest of the day.

Once we arrived home, Jack received three baths with Dawn dish soap to remove the grease and oil from her fur. Lucy the Labrador supervised the entire process and never took her eyes off the kitten. We had initially believed Jack was a boy, but we soon discovered that “he” was actually a girl.

After Jack was clean and dry, she jumped from my lap, ran beneath the dogs’ feet, and started playing. She showed no fear. She simply seemed happy to be safe, warm, and full.

My original plan was to find Jack a home. Our shop is surrounded by feral cats that we have been unable to catch and have spayed or neutered. Over the past couple of years, we have found homes for approximately 20 kittens born in the area.

Like many carefully made rescue plans, however, mine went awry. I fell in love with Jack and could not let her go.

She now has three other rescued animals to call family: Lucy the Labrador, Finn the Coonhound, and George, a kitten found the previous year. George was also supposed to be adopted by someone else, but I could not part with him either.

Jack’s story had a happy ending, but many other kittens are not as fortunate. Countless animals are born outdoors or abandoned without anyone to protect them. Please spay and neuter your animals to help prevent more suffering and give every pet a better chance at a safe life.

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Story submitted by Jocelyn from Tacoma, WA.

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!