"I Fought Cruelty!"

Erica Crain—Oregon

Saved Kitten from Abusive Neighbor

I was only 15 when I rescued my kitten from a neighbor who was abusing her. He had come home one day with the most beautiful gray and white kitten I had ever seen. Soon after, he started calling the kitten names, like punk and psycho, and was acting like he didn't even want her. He never bothered spay her or get her vaccinated. The poor kitty tried to escape from his home multiple times.

One afternoon, I saw him rub her face into the ground and start kicking her. I didn't know what to do. The next day, I had left my door open and the kitten ran right into my house and hid under the pillow on my bed. She stayed with us for a few weeks and the neighbor said nothing about it. Then the police came to our door with the neighbor. He claimed I had stolen his cat. My mom came to the rescue and stating the cat had been abused multiple times by the man and had finally found a happy home with us. When the police began to question the neighbor, he grumbled and said we could keep her.

She is the most curious cat I've ever met. She loves chasing her tail and playing. My other cat, who had been alone with our family for the last five years, wasn't sure what to make her—but they eventually became the best of friends. I'm glad I saved her from an abusive home.