Animal rescuers are true heroes. Not only do they dedicate their lives to saving animals in desperate situations, but they often put themselves at risk to do so.
Whether it’s braving a snowstorm or climbing down a cliff, rescuers always find a way to bring helpless animals to safety.
That’s why, when John Debacker, a seasoned rescuer, got word about a small ball of fluff stranded on a busy highway in New York City, he immediately dropped everything to help.
After driving for over 30 minutes, John finally reached the location — but at first, he couldn’t find the animal anywhere.
A Frightening Sight
John slowed his car and carefully scanned the road. That’s when he spotted it — a tiny ball of fluff huddled near the divider.
“When I arrived, I actually missed him at first. I went slightly past him. Then I looked in my rearview mirror and saw him sitting along the divider,” John Debacker told The Dodo.
He quickly pulled over and cautiously approached the little creature, walking into the left lane to get closer. To his surprise, the mysterious fluff turned out to be a terrified cat.
“I didn’t want to have to go around twice and risk the cat running away. Cars were coming at me pretty quickly, but I was kind of waving them to move over,” he explained.
Although John felt nervous himself, seeing the cat’s fear gave him the strength to push forward. When he finally reached the trembling feline, his heart broke at the sight.
“He was pretty terrified. He wasn’t making any noise, and he wasn’t even moving,” John added.
A Nerve-Wracking Rescue
Now that John knew exactly where the cat was, he rushed back to his car to grab a net — the safest option for capturing such a scared animal.
But as John approached again, the cat panicked and bolted.
“The cat was actually trying to run along the divider and tried to get into the sewer. He didn’t fit, fortunately, so I netted him right there,” John said.
Thankfully, John managed to secure the frightened kitty before he could slip into even more danger.
At first, the little cat wasn’t convinced he could trust his rescuer.
“When I first got him, he was hissing and everything. But then I brought him to my apartment, and he turned out to be the sweetest cat,” John recalled.
A Brand-New Life
John searched for any sign that the cat had a family, but when nothing turned up, he arranged foster care until a forever home could be found.
“He went to my friend Kacia Caprariello’s, who fostered him for a few weeks. My other friend, Virginia Scudder, helped me find him a home,” he said.
Soon, the fluffy survivor — now named Bell — found himself in a loving forever home, safe from the dangers of the road. He was also neutered and microchipped to ensure he would never be lost again.
“He’s living a wonderful life now, thankfully. Had he not been rescued, the outcome would have definitely been different,” John concluded.