Can you believe it? This little kitten was found unable to move, all covered in a dark, sticky stuff. It was tar! How awful and mean must someone be to do that?
A local resident found a three-week-old kitten covered in tar. While her two siblings only had minor injuries, she was in bad shape. Rescuers were worried about her. They named her Ashley. One of the rescuers, Sandi Lawson, said, “When we found Ashley, she was in bad shape. She wouldn’t have survived.”
Animal activists think someone did this on purpose. They suspect that someone poured tar on the property because they knew there were kittens there. Lawson couldn’t believe it, saying, “Somebody poured tar here, probably because they knew there were cats and didn’t like them.”
It’s terrible! Ashley got hurt badly. The tar covered her whole body and even made her eyes stick shut. All three kittens got medical help, but Ashley was in critical condition. She needed intensive care because nobody was sure if she would make it.
Ashley had to stay in the ICU for a whole day, which cost a lot, about $1,700. But kind people stepped up to help pay for it. It shows that kindness knows no limits.
Janice Richard, who was taking care of Ashley, thanked everyone for their quick support. She said, “We raised the money very quickly. And the community has been amazing. I have a table full of blankets and food for her.”
Thanks to Janice, the generous people, and the community, Ashley got a chance to live. Janice couldn’t believe someone would do something so awful to a helpless kitten. She said, “Covering a hole with tar where there are little kittens, they have to come out. Ashley got the worst of it.”
Thankfully, Ashley was getting better. She started walking again, but we’re not sure if there will be any long-term effects from what happened to her.
Janice worked hard to clean Ashley’s fur with special soap and oil to get rid of the tar. She said, “I had to clean her every three hours. It was a big job. She’s such a sweet little thing. She’s been through a lot, but she has a great personality.”
Ashley stayed with Janice until she was ready to be adopted permanently. She was healthy and excited to see her siblings again.
Janice told Ottawa CTV News, “It’s been a tough journey for her. I had to clean her for a long time to get all the tar off, but now it’s all gone. Her eyes are clear, and she seems really healthy.”
Despite what happened, a loving couple happily took Ashley and her siblings, Ty and Vanessa, into their home.
Gerry and Joanne Drew really liked Ashley, and they were excited to hear about her siblings too. Joanne said, “I felt so sad when I heard what happened to her. But seeing her now is amazing. I hope we’ll have a great life together with all three of them.”
Ashley has become a wonderful little cat. She loves cuddling and being held by her new owners.
Janice is happy that she found a loving home for the kittens, but she feels a little sad because Ashley left a big impression on her heart.
