Meet Mabel, a resilient little feline who first came to the Greenville Humane Society in South Carolina as a scared three-month-old kitten. Blind and the smallest of her litter, she had a tough start in the shelter, constantly hissing and anxious due to her surroundings.
Excitement filled the air when she was adopted, but that joy was short-lived. Just months later, shelter staff found her abandoned in a box left on their doorstep.
Greenville Humane Society
Upon bringing her back, they discovered Mabel also had Hydrocephalus, a condition that creates fluid buildup in the brain. In light of her new challenges, the shelter gave her a name to match her spirit—Mabel. “She’s not that frightened kitten anymore; she’s learning to navigate her world confidently,” the Greenville Humane Society shared on social media. The other cats quickly became her friends, helping her adjust.
The animal sheltering landscape is tough—6.5 million animals entered U.S. shelters in 2023, marking a 4% increase from the previous year. With many pet owners facing financial struggles, a survey revealed that nearly half would need to rely on credit cards for emergency pet care, and a quarter had contemplated rehoming their pets in the past year.
Finding a permanent home for Mabel was no easy task. She needed daily medication for her Hydrocephalus, costing around $25 each month for the foreseeable future. However, her loving nature made her worth every effort. “She has so much love to give and truly deserves a dedicated family,” the staff expressed.
In a heartwarming twist, just hours after sharing Mabel’s story online, the shelter announced she had been adopted by a family eager to provide her the care she deserves. “They saw her post and immediately fell in love! Within an hour of our Adoption Center opening, she found her forever home,” exclaimed Zheng from the shelter.
While Mabel’s story has a happy ending, the shelter is keen to address a concerning trend. Abandonments are regrettably common, with many animals being left anonymously. Zheng explained, “Nearly half of our shelter pets are surrendered by their owners. We’re always working to educate our community on responsible pet ownership and have begun scheduling owner surrender appointments five days a week to provide support.”
A recent tragic incident—a dog dying outside a shelter in New York after being left there—has once again highlighted the dangers of abandonment, stirring community outrage and prompting calls for awareness on the importance of responsible pet care.