In Houston, Texas, earlier this week, Rob Acua Jr. was walking home from work along an overpass when he saw something. This chance observation ultimately saved a life.
Acuña told The Dodo, “I saw a small hump on the motorway wall that just so happened to appear like a little face as I went by.” Since it had been a long day and I was so exhausted, “I honestly felt I was seeing things.”
While moving forward, Acua couldn’t help but wonder: What if that bump was alive?
A few minutes later, Acuña decided he had to double-check. He pulled off the freeway, turned around and headed back to the spot. And it’s a good thing that he did.
Cruising slowly along the overpass with his hazard lights on, Acuña searched and searched to find the “bump” — discovering that it was, in fact, a terrified little kitten.
Acuña’s gut feelings had been right, and with that he’d saved the day.
“The entire time I was in complete disbelief!” Acuña said. “If I had not caught it on camera, I would not believe that it even happened!”
The kitten, who her rescuer suspects had been abandoned there, was in shock. But thanks to Acuña’s quick thinking, he was able to deliver her to safety.
“I knew I only had seconds to react,” he said.
The kitten was then brought home by Acuña to be fed and cleaned.
Her name was Pepper, and he gave it to her.
If Pepper had indeed been placed in that life-threatening situation by some cruel person, her troubled past is now all behind her.
“She is doing fantastic!” Acuña said. “After a few days of being able to decompress and relax, she is starting to come out of her shell and really show the world how feisty and precious she is. It is so hard to believe she was ever in that situation to begin with.”
Acuña and his family are no strangers to animal rescue; they often open their homes to foster stray or needy pets, and work to find them forever families.
Clearly, Pepper is in good hands — and Acuña is determined that she’ll stay that way.
Many people have stepped forward to adopt Pepper after learning of her ordeal, but Acuña is still planning what will be best for her going forward.
“We absolutely love Pepper and know that if we do not keep her, we will find her the best home possible through a rescue,” he said. “What we really want others to know (since I have received thousands of messages asking if someone can adopt her) is that there are so many more strays in need! Just because they do not have a dramatic video to go along with them, does not mean they do not deserve the same love and attention.”
