Donald Czyzyk was travelling to work at the Happy Tails Humane Society, in Illinois, when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye.
Pulling his car over, he approached the red pet carrier to see what was inside.
Buried in the snow
The carrier had been left outside in the middle of Illinois winter, and it was almost completely buried by snow.
Donald quickly got to work digging it out, aware that time was critical for the animal that had been so cruelly abandoned.
A true survivor
Finally freeing the carrier from the snow, Donald cautiously looked inside.
Peering back at him, was a little grey cat. He was frozen and completely terrified.
Thankfully, he hadn't sustained any injuries from his ordeal. The brave survivor was named Winter, by Donald and the staff at Happy Tails Humane Society.
Shortly after his arrival, a wonderful couple came in looking for a new four-legged friend. They knew the rescue team personally, and immediately fell in love with Winter.
Now he has a home of his own, where he can learn what it feels like to be cared for by a loving family.