Animal rescuers in Ohio were left stunned after a tiny orange kitten was brought to them with something so shocking around his neck, staff couldn’t believe their eyes.
The kitten, now named Luigi, had been spotted by a kind local who had been feeding a small litter of kittens living in what appeared to be an abandoned garage.
For weeks, the man had been quietly leaving food out, hoping to keep them alive.
But one day, when he arrived, he was met with a sight that made his heart drop, one of the kittens had a large piece of broken glass stuck around his neck.
The little orange kitten, who couldn’t have been more than a few months old, was struggling to navigate the world.
He could still eat, but had to tilt his head awkwardly to avoid cutting himself on the jagged edges of the glass.
That was when the man knew he had to act fast.
He set up a humane trap and, thankfully, Luigi walked right in.
Once caught, the kitten was immediately taken to the Humane Society of Richland County, where staff members were shocked to see just how dangerous the situation was.
The jar wasn’t just stuck, it was tight, with sharp edges pressing dangerously close to Luigi’s fragile neck.
The team rushed him to a vet, where they made the decision to sedate him so they could safely remove the glass without hurting him.
It was a tense procedure.
Veterinary workers carefully broke away the glass and vacuumed up every tiny shard to make sure none of it hurt Luigi.
Only when the last piece was gone could everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief.
No one knows exactly how the little kitten ended up like this.
Staff suspect he poked his head into the jar looking for food or water and somehow broke the glass while trying to get free.
The mystery of how it shattered remains unsolved, but one thing is clear, Luigi had been walking around with a dangerous time bomb around his neck.
Linda Chambers, Managing Director of the Humane Society of Richland County, shared how important this rescue was.
She urged people to rinse out bottles, cans, and jars before throwing them away and to keep them somewhere animals can’t get trapped.
What happened to Luigi could have easily been fatal.
And his story is now being used to spread awareness about the risks discarded items can pose to wildlife and stray animals.
The shelter posted Luigi’s story online, showing a photo of the tiny kitten with the jar still stuck around his neck.
The image quickly went viral, racking up over 21,000 reactions and hundreds of comments from people moved by the story.
Comments poured in, with many thanking the kind man who saved Luigi’s life.
Others pledged to be more careful with their own trash, saying they would now rinse out glass jars and containers to prevent something like this from happening again.
Despite his terrifying ordeal, Luigi has made a remarkable recovery.
At first, staff described him as a little “spicy,” which is understandable given the trauma he had gone through.
But it didn’t take long for his personality to shine through.
Now, he is described as a sweet, talkative kitten who loves attention and has completely warmed up to the shelter staff.
Soon, Luigi will be ready for adoption, and staff are confident he will find the loving forever home he deserves.
Sadly, Luigi’s story is not unique.
Millions of cats and dogs enter shelters every year across the United States, many of them strays who have been left to fend for themselves.
But there is hope.
According to the ASPCA, more than 4 million shelter animals were adopted last year, giving them a second chance at life.
Luigi’s story is a powerful reminder that a little bit of compassion can make all the difference.
One man’s decision to step in and help changed this kitten’s fate forever.
Today, Luigi is safe, healthy, and soon to be someone’s beloved pet, a far cry from the scared little kitten with glass around his neck.