Photographer Rescues Freezing Cat Abandoned in Trash Can
With temperatures below freezing and a thin layer of snow covering the ground, Angel Talitha Dougherty knew it was an unusual day for a photo shoot. But that didn’t stop her and her father from heading to a local park in Greeley, Colorado. What started as a routine outing soon turned into a life-saving mission.
A Desperate Cry for Help
Shortly after arriving, Dougherty and her father heard an unsettling noise.
“I had never heard an animal make those sounds before,” she recalled. “We searched all around the park, trying to find what was making it.”
Their search led them to a trash can. Peering inside, they locked eyes with a desperate little face. At the very bottom of the bin sat a black cat—shivering, alone, and pleading for help.
A Heartwarming Rescue
Dougherty’s father carefully reached into the bin and lifted the cat into the light.
“We were a little apprehensive about how he would react, but he was just so grateful,” Dougherty said. “He started purring as soon as we pulled him close.”
Determined to find the cat’s owner, Dougherty searched the neighborhood, checked for a microchip at the vet, and posted in local Facebook groups. But after a week with no leads, it became clear that the cat had likely been abandoned.
Luckily, the lost feline had found his way into the perfect home.
“I decided to make my home his home!” she said.
A New Beginning
One month later, the once-lost cat, now named Finnegan Francisco (or Finn for short), has settled in as a beloved companion.
“He can be very cuddly, but he also loves to play,” Dougherty shared. “He’s incredibly agile and enjoys sitting in the window, watching birds.”
Looking back on that fateful day, she is grateful she was in the right place at the right time.
“I really enjoy Finn’s personality. He follows me around and does what I do,” she said. “I really lucked out with finding such a sweet cat.”