Carly Toth was helping shelter a feral cat colony from the freezing weather conditions, when she received a desperate plea for help.
"This was the first frozen cat I've dealt with in the 10 years I've been in rescue", the coordinator for Pet Friends explained.
But arriving on the scene, she knew she had to help. Weak and distressed, the poor cat had started to freeze to the ground.
Frighteningly cold
Carly rushed the stray to the local vet clinic, unsure as to whether it would even be possible to revive her.
It took three hours for her temperature to show up on a thermometer. Then, on a heat pad and covered in warm towels, the resilient cat started to come back to life.
The cat hadn't been spayed or vaccinated, but she did have a microchip. Heartbreakingly, her owner declined all responsibility and signed her over to the rescue.
The start of a happier future
The cat, it turned out, had been living on the street for over a month. Her injuries required extensive, expensive treatment, but Carly stayed by her side throughout.
She decided to name her Birthday, to mark the beginning of the rest of her life.
Birthday's injuries were so severe, she eventually required the amputation of one back leg. But thankfully, a happier future was already in sight.
Lizzie B. a vet technician who had been working with Birthday since she was first brought in, just knew she couldn't let the little cat go.
"It wasn't even a choice", she explained. "There's just something about her I can't put into words."
Birthday's bravery not only saved her that fateful day, it also helped her find a wonderful home.
