This Man Made A Stunning Discovery Inside The Home Of His Elderly Family Member
In 2016, the family of a man suffering from Alzheimer's decided that it was time to move him into an assisted living home. After the 82-year old been relocated to his new living situation, one of his distant relatives, named Paul Russel, remembered that he had owned a cat. Russel went to the house to retrieve the pet. He made a discovery there that left him absolutely stunned.
Stepping In To Help A Family Member In Need
In 2016, when an 82-year-old man from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania could no longer take care of himself and was relocated to a nursing home, his distant relative Paul Russel stepped in to help.
Russel and his family took it upon themselves to pack up the house and all of his belongings. It was a considerable task since he had lived there for many years. Russel didn't know much about his relative and knew even less about the home.
It Was The Right Decision
Of course, the decision to place the man in a nursing home was not an easy one. Taking a relative away from their house and removing their sense of independence is hard for anyone to do. However, at that point, the man needed to be cared for around the clock and the family figured this would be the best for everyone.
He especially couldn't live alone anymore as his memory worsened and he wasn't able to recognize people.
The Elderly Man Wasn't Able To Tell Them Much
Russel was able to bring his relative to assisted living and make sure that he was comfortable. When asked what needed to be taken care of, back at the house, his relative didn't mention anything beyond packing things up and making sure they're stored safely.
As Russel left the assisted living complex, he remembered that his relative owned a cat. He recalled that it was a Siamese cat named Siam.
He Found Siam There, In Good Shape
Russel returned to his relative's house and was able to locate the Siamese cat, Siam, without much trouble. He looked healthy and calm, Russel believed it wouldn't be difficult to take him from the house to make sure that he was cared for.
He began trying to coax the cat to come over to him. As he was getting ready to leave the house and make the drive home, someone mentioned that his relative might have a second cat, as well.
Something Darted From Under A Bed
After locating Siam, Russel began looking for the second cat. While he was looking for the mystery cat, a fuzzy object darted from under a bed, across the house, and down into the cellar.
Russel noticed that it looked like the cat had a blanket draped over it. Russel looked down into the cellar, calling for the cat, but didn't have any luck. He decided to come back the next day with a flashlight and more food to investigate.
Investigating The Cellar
The next day when Russel returned, he came prepared with more food and a flashlight. He described the experience as something out of a horror scene.
He was going down into a basement with nothing but a flashlight, looking for something he wasn't sure what it really was. On top of that, with his relative's memory fading, he had no clue what else could be waiting for him down the staircase.
The Cat Was In Terrible Shape
Russel told People Magazine "I went down into the creepy old cellar and it was hunkered in a corner." He couldn't believe his eyes that what he was staring at was indeed a cat.
He said that the poor thing looked scared and in terrible pain. What Russel had found was indeed his elderly relative's second cat. Russel could see that it was a female Calico cat, but he could scarcely tell it was a cat at all.
The Cat Was In Unbelievable Condition
What Russel thought was a blanket draped over the cat was actually years worth of the cat's own hair! The cat was also overweight which didn't help with its mobility.
To make things worse, the cat's hair had become matted and tangled into dreadlocks that were over eight inches long. Even worse, the matted and tangled fur was covered with the cat's own waste. It was a terrible sight and Russel felt just awful for the cat.
What To Do Now?
Russel named the newfound cat 'Hidey' because she was constantly hiding under the bed and other places around the house. She was clearly traumatized, uncomfortable, and in a lot of pain.
Since Russel and his wife Jill are both animal lovers, they spent a lot of time trying to coax Siam and Hidey out of the house in order to take Hidey to a vet. They knew she needed help right away.
The Cats Finally Saw A Vet
Once Hidey realized that she wasn't in any immediate danger, she began to trust Russel and Jill until they finally were able to pick her up ad take her to the Animal Rescue League & Wildlife Shelter in Pittsburgh.
Aside from Hidey's condition, both of the cats were old, around 17 years. Both Siam and Hidey were in dire need of a checkup. On top of that, Hidey's situation proved to be life-threatening.
Hidey Had An Unusual Condition
Unsurprisingly, the veterinarian team was in shock when they first saw Hidey. They were so baffled by her dreadlocks that they even had to go online in order to look up what kind of condition she might be suffering from. After extensive research, they still couldn't find an answer.
Although they couldn't find what exactly was wrong with her, they knew they needed to do something to help her immediately. They needed to remove the hair to relieve her from their pain, but they also didn't want to hurt her in the process.
They Shaved It Off
Finally, they came up with what they believed to be the best solution to their problem. They decided to shave it off. So, in order to calm Hidey and alleviate her pain, they put her under general anesthesia so that the vet team could go to work. In the end, it took hours to shave off all of the cat's excess hair.
In total, Hidey had been carrying around an extra two pounds of hair this whole time which was stretching and pulling on her skin underneath. She was also overweight and looked to be in bad condition compared to Siam.
Hidey Couldn't Groom Herself
At first, the vets believed that Hidey had some sort of condition that caused her fur to grow the way it did. However, they later concluded that it was Hidey's weight that was the source of the problem. Cats groom themselves frequently throughout the day, however, if a cat is overweight, this becomes harder for them to do.
The hair that had become stuck in Hidey's fur had nowhere else to go since she couldn't groom it off of herself. So, it began to grow and clump together so bad that there was nothing that Hidey could ever do to stop it.
Her Owner Hadn't Brushed Her Fur In Years
When it comes to long-haired cats like Calicos, their owners are also supposed to help out and brush them regularly because of their extra hair. Since Hidey's owner could hardly take care of himself, it is likely that he wasn't up for the task of taking care of Hidey either.
In the years that Hidey's elderly owner suffered from Alzheimer's, Hidey's hair grew out of control and she became trapped beneath her own fur with no chance of escape. What was once a healthy cat had become skittish and miserable because of neglect.
Adopted By The Russels
After both cats had been treated and vaccinated, the Russels decided to give both cats a new chance at life. The couple adopted the two cats into their home in Churchill, Pennsylvania where they would become members of the family along with their other three cats and two dogs.
Of course, the transition wasn't all that smooth for Hidey. Not only did she have to learn to live with two human owners and all of the other animals, she also had to learn to live without all of her old excess fur. Over time, she slowly became more comfortable, however, she was still traumatized from her past.
A Full Transformation
Initially, Hidey was incredibly afraid and skittish. So much, that she would shutter and shake whenever anyone even came near her. Thankfully, over time, Hidey began to come around after becoming familiar with her new surroundings and fellow pets. After the Russels earned her trust, it was smooth sailing from there.
Although the process was slow and arduous, Jill had faith that eventually Hidey would become comfortable enough to play with the other animals. She knew that not only would this help with her social issues but would also help her get back into shape.
A New Hidey
Although at first, Hidey was timid and liked to hide under the bed at the Russels, they knew she needed to learn affection. So, they began taking her out in the open and holding her on their lap. Eventually, she began coming out from under the bed herself for attention. She even started purring showing that she was enjoying her new home.
She even got her own special cat bed and has now come into her own. Today, she loves playing with her other friends in the house and even enjoys the company of people who come to visit her on her cat bed.
Blaming The Owner
Almost immediately after the shelter posted Hidey's story online, the story was told in magazines, newspapers, and television stations everywhere. It was shocking to everybody and people were outraged for a variety of different reasons and weren't afraid to express their opinions.
Initially, people were in disbelief that anyone could let an animal become in such a state. Several people immediately put the blame on the owner without realizing that the man had been suffering from Alzheimer's. Others, however, were outraged for entirely different reasons.
People Claimed Elderly Neglect
Other people that took the time to read deeper into the story came to understand that it wasn't necessarily the owner's fault for the condition that Hidey was in. It then became an issue of elderly neglect and not animal neglect. People began to point out that the elderly man should have been checked up on more for his own safety if not for the animals.
People began to wonder if this is what the animals looked like, then what did the man look like? Someone was bound to notice Hidey at least once if people had come to visit more frequently than they apparently did.
Claiming The Photos Were Fake
Some people didn't blame the owner or cry elderly neglect. They were so astonished by the photos and stories that they claimed the entire thing was a hoax altogether. Not only could they not wrap their heads around that kind of neglect, they also refused to believed that a cat would just stop grooming itself.
While one comment demonstrated a woman's firm beliefs that the photo was fake, she was quickly corrected. Animal rescue organizations from all over explained that was happened to Hidey is entirely possible and that she was lucky to be found when she was.
People Didn't Believe A Cat Would Stop Grooming Itself
While most of us that have cats rarely have to groom them ourselves, some people couldn't believe that Hidey would just stop grooming herself. What they failed to understand is that in certain situations, especially when their health is affected, cats will stop doing so.
While Hidey's case may be rare, it is possible for it to happen to other cats and most likely has. Thankfully, most cat owners are likely to catch something like this before it ever happens to their cat. The main reason that it happened to Hidey was because her situation was the perfect storm for something like that to happen.
The Animal Shelter Makes An Announcement
On December 16, 2016, just one day after Hidey had been brought into the animal shelter, the team made a public announcement. Staff members of the Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center posted on Facebook in order to create awareness about forgotten elderly citizens and their pets.
The post read "Please remember to not only check on the elderly in your community, but also check on their animals to prevent instances like this from happening in the future." The vets knew that Hidey was going to be okay but felt it was important to remind people so that this doesn't happen again.
Pets Can Be Beneficial To Elderly People
A multitude of research has proven that pets help to relieve the stress that some elderly experience, especially when they are plagued with an illness. They help to reduce blood pressure, keep the owner active, and help with social interaction. Animals are an easy way for the elderly to take their mind off of things which is greatly beneficial to mental and physical health.
Pets can also help with long-term memory which is very helpful for people with Alzheimer's. It's different than remembering a person and they don't ask for anything except love and attention. However, it's essential that the only time an elderly person has a pet is if they're being looked after or if they're aware enough to safely own one.
A New Program In Honor Of Hidey
Although it was unfortunate that it happened to Hidey, the Calico cat has become the symbol for the importance of checking up on the elderly and their animals. Since her rescue, Pennsylvania's Animal Rescue League & Shelter Wildlife Center started a fund to support animals that can no longer be cared for by their senior citizen owners.
Through the program, the goal is to find loving and caring home for all animals whose elderly owners can no longer care for them or have passed away. This way, people know that senior citizens and their pets are both being looked out for.
Yankee the Poodle Was a Los Angeles Stray
Yankee the poodle was living on the streets of Los Angeles, California. Although no one is sure just how long Yankee had been homeless, locals had seen him wandering around, fending for himself for some time.
It was clear that Yankee was struggling to make it through the day. He would search tirelessly for scraps of food to eat and water to drink before retreating to an alleyway to rest.
Yankee Was Afraid of People
By now, Yankee had been living on the streets of Los Angeles for a while so some of the locals recognized the scraggly-haired pup. Many of them would bring him food and water to eat, but no one had been able to give him a forever home.
Sometimes locals would try to catch Yankee but he would run away or retreat into his safe spot in the alleyway.
Yankee Didn't Have Much Time Left
Recently, the locals noticed that Yankee no longer seemed interested in eating any of the food they would bring him. They started to think that he might be on the verge of passing away.
Although the locals who knew Yankee couldn't give the sweet pup a forever home, they knew they needed to find someone who could. With the change in his demeanor, they were worried he might be injured or sick, so they called Hope for Paws.
Hope for Paws Came to the Rescue
Hope for Paws received a message about a homeless poodle that was possibly injured. They were interested in helping Yankee immediately and sent a rescue team his way. Two volunteers had just finished another rescue and rushed to find the poodle. When they arrived, it was clear that Yankee wouldn't last much longer on the streets. By his demeanor, he’d already given up.
Although Yankee had a sweet demeanor, he’d grown to be wary of strangers. Even though Hope for Paws was there to help, it took a while for the poodle to warm up to them.
Yankee Was Skeptical to Let the Volunteers Help Him
The volunteers approached Yankee, who was lying defeated in the corner of the alleyway. At first, Yankee didn't even move as they approached — but when they tried to put a leash around his neck, he retreated.
Yankee was understandably afraid of the volunteers from Hope for Paws. After all, humans hadn’t been much help to him so far, so why should he believe these people were any different?
The Volunteers Coaxed Yankee Out of the Alleyway
The volunteers had lots of experience dealing with stray dogs who were nervous and untrusting of humans. Thanks to their prior work with pups in need, they knew getting Yankee away from the alleyway he now called home wouldn't be a walk in the park.
Luckily, the volunteers were persistent in their pursuit to get Yankee to a safe place. After some coaxing, they were able to get a leash on the pup and walk him out of the alleyway.
Getting Yankee to the Van Wasn't Exactly Easy
Knowing Yankee would likely retreat into the alleyway the first chance he got, the volunteers gently scooped him up and carried him slowly to the rescue van. As they were walking back, a local woman walked up and started patting Yankee on the head. She said she'd been trying to help the pup for a few days but he was afraid of her. She was so grateful for the Paws of Hope volunteers.
Once they were in the van, the volunteers gave Yankee an initial check-up, looking closely for any blood, bruising, cuts, or scrapes.
Luckily, Yankee Didn't Have any Noticeable Injuries
Luckily, Yankee didn't show have any noticeable injuries, which was surprising considering he had been wandering the streets alone for some time. But Yankee was in dire need of food, water, and a nice warm bath.
The volunteers were so excited to give Yankee the love and care he deserved, but Yankee was nervous. He was visibly shaking in the arms of the volunteer.
To the Rescue Hospital We Go
As the volunteers prepared to head back to the rescue hospital, they opened the hatchback of the vehicle to crate Yankee, but the poodle was hesitant. After some more coaxing, the volunteers were able to get Yankee loaded into the rescue van and begin their drive.
While in the car, the volunteers made sure to soothe Yankee as much as possible. Within a few minutes, the pup settled in and even started opening up a bit.
Yankee Slowly Started to Trust the Volunteers
The volunteers had placed Yankee in a crate in the back of the car but left the door open in case he wanted to move about. About halfway through the drive, Yankee slowly crept from the crate and even moved to the back passenger seat to sit next to one of the volunteers.
From the looks in Yankee's eyes, the volunteers were hopeful that this meant he was warming up to them and that he knew they were here to help.
A Trip to the Vet
Now that Yankee was safe in the care of the volunteers, it was time to get down to business. First up on the list was a trip see a veterinarian. Since Yankee had been on the streets for some time, he definitely hadn't been to the vet in a while.
There was no way to tell if Yankee had heartworms or some type of nasty infection brewing, but the volunteers were hoping for the best.
Yankee Gets a Clean Bill of Health
To everyone's relief, Yankee received a clean bill of health from the vet. He tested negative for heartworms and didn’t have any infections. He also hadn’t suffered any serious injuries while he was living on the streets.
Yankee had however developed some seriously matted fur. One thing was for certain — he needed a bath and proper grooming!
The Volunteers Realized Yankee's Trust Issues Were Severe
When the volunteers left the vet with Yankee, their next mission was to finally give the sweet pup a bath and proper grooming. But as they tried to clean Yankee, they realized his trust issues were worse than they thought.
Having worked with numerous neglected pups in the past, the volunteers weren't surprised by Yankee’s trust issues at first, but their next realization left them all heartbroken.
Yankee Had Received Little to No Affection His Entire Life
Although the volunteers were experienced handling dogs who were afraid of human, Yankee was a little different. After spending a few hours with him, they realized he had likely received little to no affection at all throughout his entire life.
The sweet pup had never been properly loved, cared for, or socialized. But now, Yankee was finally going to get the care he so desperately needed and deserved.
Yankee Opens Up
When the volunteers arrived with Yankee to the rescue hospital, the pup continued to shy away. Yankee was more subdued than ever, but he did seem to know that these people were all there to help him.
Soon enough, Yankee finally started to open up. He seemed to finally realize that the volunteers who picked him up from the alleyway, the vet, and those at the rescue hospital were all there to help him.
Yankee Started to Thrive
Yankee spent the next few weeks making a full recovery at the rescue hospital. Now that he had proper food, water, and hygiene, he was starting to thrive! Being around humans and other animals all day was really beneficial for Yankee. Slowly but surely he was opening up to others.
Although the volunteers who had rescued Yankee and helped give him a second chance at life were attached to the pup, they knew the next step was to find him a foster home.
Finding His Foster Home
Before they knew it, the time had come to start looking for a foster home for Yankee. Now that he was well enough, Yankee was able to leave the rescue hospital.
Yankee was released to a foster home from the Rescue From the Hart organization. At his foster home, he met a young boy who wanted Yankee to become a part of his family forever.
The Difference Just a Few Weeks Can Make
Just a few weeks before, Yankee had been living on the dirty streets of Los Angeles with little food and water. More than that, the poodle had received so little affection and socialization in his life that he was terrified of humans and even resisted their help.
But thanks to the kindness of strangers, Yankee was now healthy and happy. He also had a new best friend!
Yankee Makes a New Best Friend
It seemed like only yesterday Yankee was living in fear of humans, but now the once-homeless poodle had made a 180 in his life. He even found a new best friend!
The foster family that adopted Yankee had a young son, who fell in love with Yankee. Eventually, the boy and the pup became best friends. Now, Yankee's personality was really shining. Even better, he now has his own backyard to run around in!
Look at That Smile!
Would you look at the smile? You can't fake that kind of happiness! It’s almost hard to believe that this photo of Yankee and his new owner was taken just a few short weeks after he was rescued.
Finally, Yankee had found his forever home and he was truly thriving. After a lifetime of being alone, he was finally getting the love, affection, and care he so dearly deserved.
Yankee Became More Social As Time Went On
Anyone who works with animal rescues knows how hard it can be for animals to transition to a new home. Just because you know they're receiving the best care and are in a safe environment, doesn’t mean they know they are.
But Yankee seemed to be an enigma. The sweet pup only got more social as time went on! He made a quick transition into his foster family and was truly the perfect addition.
Before and After
This before and after shot of Yankee is nothing short of awesome. It's hard to believe that these photos were taken only weeks apart. But it just goes to show how far a little compassion and kindness can go.
If it weren't for the amazing rescue volunteers, who knows what may have happened to Yankee. But now, this poodle has a new chance at life. We think his face says it all!
