It's a scene that the teams at the Humane Society of Greater Niagara shelter in St. Catharines, Canada, won't forget anytime soon. Whilst checking the recycling area in late October, volunteers came across three taped-up cardboard boxes and a small cage abandoned near the bins. Inside, fourteen terrified cats were waiting in the dark to be rescued.
The shock quickly gave way to urgency. The rescuers immediately transferred the animals inside the shelter. When they opened the boxes, a great sense of relief washed over them as none of the cats were in immediate distress. All of them were settled in a quiet space, warmed up and fed, under the team's watchful eye.
More boxes the following morning
Just when the volunteers thought the matter was over, they had the unpleasant surprise of discovering four more boxes abandoned in the same spot the following morning. Inside were four more cats, frightened but alive. The rescuers, exhausted but determined, took them in as well.
Despite the exhaustion and anger, the shelter keeps its goal in mind: to offer all these animals a second chance. The younger and more sociable ones have already found a family, whilst the more fearful ones are currently placed in foster homes whilst they regain their confidence.
