Russell the incredible orange cat has been giving a helping paw to other animals in need at a clinic, despite the fact that he was badly burned in a fire.
Russell has been a patient at the Animal Emergency Hospital and Urgent Care Clinic in Raleigh, North Carolina for more than a year and a half now. He was found in the rubble after a fire which destroyed a home and left him with severe burns in early 2014.
“He was pretty far gone, and we didn’t know if he would make it,” said Alan Wilford to the Dodo. “He has taken a long time, but he has made a miraculous recovery.”
Russell needs constant medical attention every day for his recovery, but he’s done the unthinkable during his stay at the clinic. This friendly ginger cat has offered comfort to other animals who are hurting and in need of care.
“He’s incredible engaging. He wants to meet all our patients. He just wants to be with them,” Wilford said. “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, even when you wouldn’t think they would.”
“I think he helps other animals feel at ease. We’re a clinic, so I’m sure he helps alleviate their stress,” he said. “…he likes to be with other animals. And it’s not all about him. He really enjoys giving companionship to others.”
Russell may not be well enough to return to the kind of life he once lived, according to the clinic, but he will never be short of love and life.
“He’s adopted us,” Wilford said. “He’s a rock star here. Everyone wants to see him, and he just eats it up. I don’t know if he’d like being a normal house cat again, so we’d be happy to keep him as our clinic mascot.”
UPDATE: Russell is back with his family in their new home!
Watch the adorable video of Russell the cat befriending a fawn!
“You’ve seen my descent, now watch my rising.”
