RESCUE AND CARE
New home, new
life for Merlin When a London cat charity took in a tiny kitten to foster, he had
a raw wound where his nose should be and a red, swollen paw.
Worried he'd been harmed deliberately, his foster carer took him
to one of our animal hospitals. Our vet assessed him and set him on
a long road of treatment and surgeries to heal his wounds. Meanwhile,
our investigators found evidence the kitten's owner had intentionally
scalded him. We prosecuted them for deliberate cruelty.
RSPCA Inspector Nicole Broster saw the kitten at the hospital -
and fell for him. "I've seen lots of cruelty but that sight still haunts
me," she says. "His owner gave him up because they didn't like
seeing his wounded face." Once he'd recovered, Nicole adopted
him and named him Merlin. "Even now, some people struggle to
look at him, but I think he's perfect," she says.
Though Merlin's injuries will affect him for the rest of his life,
he's now a loving, friendly, contented cat.
"Merlin's my living talisman," says Nicole. "Proof there is hope,
even in the face of awful cruelty."
"
…there is
hope, even in
the face of
awful cruelty.
"
TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2024
18