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Cat Rescued From Fire Now Nurses Other Animals In Pet Hospital
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Cat Rescued From Fire Now Nurses Other Animals In Pet Hospital

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A cat that survived a house-fire, suffering 3rd degree burns resulting in amputations, has spent the last year caring for other animals at the Animal Emergency Hospital & Urgent Care in North Carolina. Russel, who is still recovering despite a year of treatment, goes from room to room visiting other animals in distress. He won’t stop to rest unless he’s gently encouraged by the staff.

“He wants to meet all our patients. He just wants to be with them,” hospital staff told The Dodo. “I don’t know if he can sense that other animals are in pain…but he does seem to have some weird knack for connecting with patients.”

Russel may never fully recover, and recently had to have his feet operated on. However, donations have made it possible to live at the hospital full-time, where he will be loved and appreciated.

More info: ervets4pets.com | Good Samaritan Fund (h/t: thedodo)

Meet Russel, a cat who survived a house fire last year

Being a permanent resident in the animal hospital, Russel started to care for other patients

“He wants to meet all our patients. He just wants to be with them”

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“I don’t know if he can sense that other animals are in pain…but he does seem to have some weird knack for connecting with patients.”

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“Most cats are independent and aloof, but he likes to be with other animals”

“And it’s not all about him. He really enjoys giving companionship to others”

Russel might never fully recover, but he has a good and meaningful life at the clinic

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“He’s a rock star here. Everyone wants to see him. We’d be happy to keep him as our clinic mascot”

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roseanne.m.james avatar
RoseanneJames
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh God that is so sad; I can't bear to think of how much suffering that poor little boy went through. But it's wonderful to know how loved & appreciated he is by the other animals & that he has a permanent home with such loving & caring people at the hospital. I do so hope that he gets better. I'm a Reiki healer & healing energy transcends time & space & goes where it's directed, so I am going to start sending healing to this little cat & to the other animals in the hospital. I have 5 cats of my own & it's miraculously helped them, including a serious back injury that i was told by the vet would not recover on its own. I gave her healing in the car & by the time I got home she was healed & has never shown a back injury since! It also healed my daughter of scalding water burns on her face. The doctors were discussing cosmetic surgery. 5 days Iater the burns disappeared leaving her skin unmarked. I am just the channel though, it comes through me not from me, all I do is ask <3 <3 <3

artsbright avatar
SueBright
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's amazing how empathic animals are. A quality once thought to be human only. Science keeps revealing how alike animals of different species are. I find it humbling.

wordsvoices avatar
CorbieMitleid
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have followed Russell since the beginning. He WILL go home to his family, and they are in constant contact with the hospital and often come to visit. The hospital may WANT to keep him (how could you not fall in love with that boy?) but they know that he has a family that desperately wants him home when he is well enough to go. Had to correct some of the sensationalism in the article. I contribute to the hospital's Good Samaritan fund monthly to help animals like Darla the fawn. best monthly money I spend!

IncognitusHumanum avatar
JeanneDeaux
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ginger cats are the best. They are very kind cats. I wonder about his eyes: did he lost them because of the fire or does he still have them? And also, what about his humans? Did they abandon him to the clinic because they didn't want an "ill" cat or did something terrible happened to them in this fire? Poor little one, I hope you'll be able to keep him!

annielaurie avatar
AnnieLaurieBurke
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What an awesome little being! Courage and empathy are not just human traits. To the extent that humans show them, we inherited these characteristics from our nonhuman forebears. I hope that Russel continues to improve.

zeldaloftwing avatar
ZeldaLoftwing
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He had gone through so much and yet look at him. He is such a trooper.

tricksterdream avatar
MaureenThomas
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Animals are so beautiful because they don't know or care whether they are beautiful or ugly, just whether they are receiving and giving love.

irisgreen37 avatar
IrisGreen
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a journey for all involved. Thank you for having this beautiful being continue to live its life purpose Many Blessings

001763 avatar
NatMcq
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor thing but at least he is helping other injured animals

cathygarrick avatar
CatherineGarrick
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would you please make sure if the clinic closes for some reason that he gets a good home. Maybe doing pet therapy.

cathygarrick avatar
CatherineGarrick
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please make sure if the clinic closes for some reason, that he gets a good home! Maybe a job as pet therapy.

snowycreek2003 avatar
JudyTyni
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This kitty is amazing! He is giving back! Thank God this vet clinic took him in and is giving him a chance to love again.. So wonderful!

Berna avatar
Berna
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gives me faith in humans and more love for animals. We can learn from them.

Rhon avatar
Rhon
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope Russell is one of those cats that lives to be 20 or more. He's beautiful.

marilynslateronthemove avatar
MarilynSlater
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a little hero! The last photo, of Russel being held up in front of a rainbow, makes him look like an old, incredibly well-loved teddy bear! I wish him and you well and happy.

jeff_3 avatar
JoshWeinstein
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An AWESOME cat, a credit to the feline race! Nicer than most people. VERY deserving of the BEST medical care!

michelle_m_schafer_3 avatar
MichelleSchafer
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor Russell, poor baby, all the pain he went through. I am so happy this poor baby finds comfort with other animals. I am glad he will also remain in the hospital and have a good life.

mariajose.leiva.58323 avatar
MariaJoseLeiva
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awwww. Poor cat. I feel so bad for him. ;-; Hope he will recover.

marieanne_duhem avatar
Marie-AnneDuhem
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kudos to the staff and people who made Russell's recovery possible. I do have a general question that I've been wondering about in cases where dsifiguration is involved? What about 'body language'? What about facial expression? How do other cats react seeing Russell's face?

Lr avatar
Lr
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wonderful and inspiring - makes me love critters even more & I'm already let in critter ville

scentsablyurs avatar
GenieGee
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good story....I think I would just want to take him home & give him nothing but love & spoil him for the rest of his life!

luzia_koehler avatar
LuziaKoehler
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maravilhoso gatinho e maravilhosas pessoas que o resgataram!!!

incognitushumanum avatar
JeanneDeaux
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Isn't it kinda cruel to not have put an end to his suffering at the very beginning? I mean animals have this huge chance that humans probably won't ever have legaly in most countries to leave life peacefuly with a simple seringe when they are suffering too much so why refuse him this? I know in the end and after multiple painful operations he is still alive so it wasn't not worth it but...

janashinawa avatar
JanaShinawa
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most cats are independent - NO this is B******t! What kind of clinic is this?

roseanne.m.james avatar
RoseanneJames
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh God that is so sad; I can't bear to think of how much suffering that poor little boy went through. But it's wonderful to know how loved & appreciated he is by the other animals & that he has a permanent home with such loving & caring people at the hospital. I do so hope that he gets better. I'm a Reiki healer & healing energy transcends time & space & goes where it's directed, so I am going to start sending healing to this little cat & to the other animals in the hospital. I have 5 cats of my own & it's miraculously helped them, including a serious back injury that i was told by the vet would not recover on its own. I gave her healing in the car & by the time I got home she was healed & has never shown a back injury since! It also healed my daughter of scalding water burns on her face. The doctors were discussing cosmetic surgery. 5 days Iater the burns disappeared leaving her skin unmarked. I am just the channel though, it comes through me not from me, all I do is ask <3 <3 <3

artsbright avatar
SueBright
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's amazing how empathic animals are. A quality once thought to be human only. Science keeps revealing how alike animals of different species are. I find it humbling.

wordsvoices avatar
CorbieMitleid
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have followed Russell since the beginning. He WILL go home to his family, and they are in constant contact with the hospital and often come to visit. The hospital may WANT to keep him (how could you not fall in love with that boy?) but they know that he has a family that desperately wants him home when he is well enough to go. Had to correct some of the sensationalism in the article. I contribute to the hospital's Good Samaritan fund monthly to help animals like Darla the fawn. best monthly money I spend!

IncognitusHumanum avatar
JeanneDeaux
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ginger cats are the best. They are very kind cats. I wonder about his eyes: did he lost them because of the fire or does he still have them? And also, what about his humans? Did they abandon him to the clinic because they didn't want an "ill" cat or did something terrible happened to them in this fire? Poor little one, I hope you'll be able to keep him!

annielaurie avatar
AnnieLaurieBurke
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What an awesome little being! Courage and empathy are not just human traits. To the extent that humans show them, we inherited these characteristics from our nonhuman forebears. I hope that Russel continues to improve.

zeldaloftwing avatar
ZeldaLoftwing
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He had gone through so much and yet look at him. He is such a trooper.

tricksterdream avatar
MaureenThomas
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Animals are so beautiful because they don't know or care whether they are beautiful or ugly, just whether they are receiving and giving love.

irisgreen37 avatar
IrisGreen
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a journey for all involved. Thank you for having this beautiful being continue to live its life purpose Many Blessings

001763 avatar
NatMcq
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor thing but at least he is helping other injured animals

cathygarrick avatar
CatherineGarrick
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would you please make sure if the clinic closes for some reason that he gets a good home. Maybe doing pet therapy.

cathygarrick avatar
CatherineGarrick
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please make sure if the clinic closes for some reason, that he gets a good home! Maybe a job as pet therapy.

snowycreek2003 avatar
JudyTyni
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This kitty is amazing! He is giving back! Thank God this vet clinic took him in and is giving him a chance to love again.. So wonderful!

Berna avatar
Berna
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gives me faith in humans and more love for animals. We can learn from them.

Rhon avatar
Rhon
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope Russell is one of those cats that lives to be 20 or more. He's beautiful.

marilynslateronthemove avatar
MarilynSlater
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a little hero! The last photo, of Russel being held up in front of a rainbow, makes him look like an old, incredibly well-loved teddy bear! I wish him and you well and happy.

jeff_3 avatar
JoshWeinstein
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An AWESOME cat, a credit to the feline race! Nicer than most people. VERY deserving of the BEST medical care!

michelle_m_schafer_3 avatar
MichelleSchafer
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor Russell, poor baby, all the pain he went through. I am so happy this poor baby finds comfort with other animals. I am glad he will also remain in the hospital and have a good life.

mariajose.leiva.58323 avatar
MariaJoseLeiva
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awwww. Poor cat. I feel so bad for him. ;-; Hope he will recover.

marieanne_duhem avatar
Marie-AnneDuhem
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kudos to the staff and people who made Russell's recovery possible. I do have a general question that I've been wondering about in cases where dsifiguration is involved? What about 'body language'? What about facial expression? How do other cats react seeing Russell's face?

Lr avatar
Lr
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wonderful and inspiring - makes me love critters even more & I'm already let in critter ville

scentsablyurs avatar
GenieGee
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good story....I think I would just want to take him home & give him nothing but love & spoil him for the rest of his life!

luzia_koehler avatar
LuziaKoehler
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maravilhoso gatinho e maravilhosas pessoas que o resgataram!!!

incognitushumanum avatar
JeanneDeaux
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Isn't it kinda cruel to not have put an end to his suffering at the very beginning? I mean animals have this huge chance that humans probably won't ever have legaly in most countries to leave life peacefuly with a simple seringe when they are suffering too much so why refuse him this? I know in the end and after multiple painful operations he is still alive so it wasn't not worth it but...

janashinawa avatar
JanaShinawa
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most cats are independent - NO this is B******t! What kind of clinic is this?

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