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For 22 Years, This Scrap Metal Worker Has Been Feeding Neighboring Cats, Never Missed A Day
Meet Willie Ortiz, a scrap metal collector who has been feeding stray cats for 22 years now, not missing a single day. The 76-year-old man, a veteran and a husband of 52 years from Hartford, Connecticut, provides food to nearly 70 felines. “Presently he feeds 16 colonies of stray and feral cats, a total of 68 cats, every night, 365 days a year and has never missed a night in 22 years,” Kathleen Schlentz said via GoFundMe. “He makes sure they get what they need to have as good a life as possible.”
Ortiz, a Puerto Rico native, started feeding cats back in 1995, after seeing a hungry kitty begging for food. “People were pushing it away, and I could see it needed help,” Ortiz told Courant. The man immediately realized that caring for cats was his life’s mission.
However, not everyone understands his decision. “People ask me why I feed them every day, or tell me I feed them too much,” Ortiz said. “You eat every day, no? You get three meals; they eat once every 24 hours.”
Ortiz says he will continue doing this for as long as he can.
More info: GoFundMe (h/t: lovemeow)
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Meet Willie Ortiz, a scrap metal collector who provides food to stray cats on a daily basis
The 76-year-old man, a veteran and a husband of 52 years feeds nearly 70 felines
“He feeds 16 colonies of stray and feral cats, a total of 68 cats, every night, 365 days a year”
In all those years, the man never missed a day, and cats get what they need to have a good life
Ortiz, a Puerto Rico native, started feeding cats after seeing a hungry kitty begging for food
“People ask me why I feed them every day, or tell me I feed them too much”
“You eat every day, no? You get three meals; they eat once every 24 hours”
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Weird Theater Geek 8 years ago
My grandpa has a heated/cooling indoor patio for outdoor cats. They are well fed and he fixes them. They are feral but love him its so cute!
Angelika Nesper 8 years ago
"Feeding the cats is only half of Ortiz's mission, according to Haines. Over the years, Ortiz has brought ailing cats to Haines. Some need a quick booster shot, others need spaying or neutering." You can find the whole article about him in the Hartford Courant.
Melissa Nunya 8 years ago
Thank you for sharing this. I saw the picture with some kitties in carriers above and was wondering if he was having them fixed. Go Willie!
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Weird Theater Geek 8 years ago
My grandpa has a heated/cooling indoor patio for outdoor cats. They are well fed and he fixes them. They are feral but love him its so cute!
Angelika Nesper 8 years ago
"Feeding the cats is only half of Ortiz's mission, according to Haines. Over the years, Ortiz has brought ailing cats to Haines. Some need a quick booster shot, others need spaying or neutering." You can find the whole article about him in the Hartford Courant.
Melissa Nunya 8 years ago
Thank you for sharing this. I saw the picture with some kitties in carriers above and was wondering if he was having them fixed. Go Willie!
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