Russell is a sweet orange tabby cat who was rescued from a house fire. And he suffered burns so bad that veterinarians didn’t think he’d survive.
For over a year, the cat has been cared for at a veterinary hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina.
He has taken a long time, but he has made a miraculous recovery,” veterinarian Alan Wilford told The Dodo.
But Russell is more than just a patient at the animal hospital. He also works to comfort other sick animals. Although he still has some way to go before he’s fully healed and is in constant need of care, Russell still likes to help the other patients.
“He’s incredibly engaging. He wants to meet all our patients. He just wants to be with them. I don’t know if he can sense that other animals are in pain or have stuff going on, but he does seem to have some weird knack for connecting with patients,” Alan Wilford told Image Source.
Every day, Russell walks back and forth in the veterinary hospital and makes his rounds. He visits the other patients and lies down next to them for a while.
Many cats are loners and don’t want to interact with others, but Russell is unusually social. He even thinks to cuddle with the dogs in the hospital.
There’s a risk that Russell will never be fully restored again. But in that case, he may be happy just staying at the animal hospital.
“He’s adopted us,” Alan Wilford said.
Staff describe him as a rock star and they wish he could stay with them even after his injuries have completely healed. And it seems like that’s exactly what Russell wants, too!
Russell’s story has spread across the world and he’s being celebrated by hundreds of thousands of people. I think everyone should read the story of this big-hearted cat hero. Share if you agree!
At Newsner, we love animals and believe in treating them with utmost respect. Please like if you do, too.