Willie Ortiz, 76, of Hartford, Connecticut, is a veteran and scrap metal collector. He has been feeding stray animals in his neighborhood for 22 years, never missing a day. He goes out in the rain, snow, and freezing cold to collect scrap metal to pay for food and cat necessities. Willie looks after them, feeding them every night and spraying and neutering them to keep the stray population under control.
Source: GoFundMe
He began feeding stray cats after witnessing people ignore a starving kitten begging for food.
“People were pushing it away, and I could tell it needed assistance,” Willie explained. “I know these animals don’t understand my accent, but I have to act.” He determined that care for stray cats would be his life’s work from that point on.
Willie drives around collecting scraps to sell every morning, and every evening he leaves his house with tins of sardines and cat food, feeding the cats and checking on their health. He takes care of highly healthy and well-fed pets.
Source: GoFundMe
Willie not only feeds the cats every day, but he also cares for wounded or sick cats and brings them in for medical attention. Despite the fact that his job is really challenging, Willie claims that it is his life and that it makes him sincerely happy. Willie says he’ll keep feeding the cats as long as he can.
Last year, a woman called Kathleen Schlentz set up a GoFundMe campaign to assist Willie in purchasing extra food for the cats. It’s hardly unexpected that it exceeded its goal, but you may still contribute to this endeavor. We hope that those who believe in Willie’s cause will continue to donate.
Source: GoFundMe
“Right now, he feeds 16 colonies of stray and feral cats, a total of 68 animals, every night, 365 days a year, and has never missed a night in 22 years,” Kathleen Schlentz said on GoFundMe. “He makes certain that they have all they require to live as happy a life as possible.”
The world needs more people like Willie – people whose everyday acts of kindness make the world a better place. However, not everyone agrees with his choice. “People ask me why I feed them every day, and they tell me I give them too much,” Ortiz explained. “You eat every day, don’t you?” You receive three meals a day, whereas they only eat once every 24 hours.”
Source: GoFundMe
If you would like to support him, click here to see how you can help.
