A tiny four-week-old kitten is recovering after getting stuck in a truck’s wheel.
The stray youngster attempted to run away from animal rescuers, but got its leg trapped.
Thankfully, the male’s predicament was discovered thanks to its cries for help in residential Lawrence, Massachusetts.
Meaghan O’Leary, director of operations at the MSPCA at Nevins Farm in Methuen, where the kitten was brought, explains: “Lawrence Animal Control officers were trying to trap the kitten and his siblings, to get them off the streets.
“This little guy got scared and hid in the tire.
“No one could find him until they heard him crying. It was just so heartbreaking.”
The kitten was found severely injured and stuck in the wheel of a resident’s truck.
Lawrence Animal Control contacted a local towing company to help free it and arranged transport to the veterinarian.
But once doctors saw extent of the poor kitten’s injuries, they knew he would need an incredible amount of help to recover.
Meaghan O’Leary says: “Our vets immediately cleaned him up, sutured a large wound on his leg, and bandaged his foot.
“We’re optimistic that we’ll be able to save his leg, but we’ll likely need to amputate some toes.”
The kitten was expected to undergo surgery, and then he’ll go into a foster home until he’s old enough to be adopted.
Meaghan adds: “It’s going to take him four to six weeks to recover from his surgery.
“He’ll stay in foster care during that time, and we’ll change his bandages and check his foot regularly.
“Right now, the kitten’s doing great with his foster. He’s eating well and has even been moving around, despite his injuries.
“We know that he’ll be a wonderful pet when he’s fully recovered.”
The MSPCA say they are looking for adopters who have the time to allow this little kitten to acclimate to his new surroundings.
Shelter staff expect he’ll need minimal follow-up care on his foot, but recommend adopters form a close relationship with a veterinarian.
