Hopefield Animal Sanctuary regularly takes in animals in need. From dogs to donkeys, they help in any way they can, offering a safe haven to call home.
And while every rescue has their own story, some cases are more shocking than others.
Just in time
Xico, who works at the sanctuary, happened to be walking past a school when he found a litter of kittens closed in a cardboard box.
It was the hottest day of the year, and the poor babies were struggling to survive.
"It's no secret that our hearts are broken on an almost daily basis by the avalanche of animals we're asked to take in, but this kind of abandonment is next level cruel. It was 32 degrees when we found them, so we can only imagine in that box", shared the Hopefield team on Facebook.
Thankfully, Xico arrived just in time, saving the kittens before it was too late.
Addressing the original owner in their post, the rescue team explained, "you're lucky we're just checking the CCTV footage for a case of animal abandonment and neglect, rather than looking to prosecute for the death of these innocent souls".
New beginnings
When the kittens were first found, their mother ran off, leaving staff concerned as to her well-being. But her mothering instincts were so strong that Aurora turned up at the sanctuary gates just a few days later.
Now both mother and babies are thriving. Happy and healthy, they'll soon start looking for their forever homes.
