In California, a man’s routine glance into a trash can turned into an unexpected rescue mission when he discovered four tiny, trembling kittens trapped inside. The poor creatures, abandoned and frightened, had been left in a grim situation. Desperate to help, the man reached out to The Kris Kelly Foundation, an animal advocacy nonprofit, for assistance. The Foundation quickly spread the word online, urging local rescuers to step in.

When Shira Scott Astrof, the president of The Animal Rescue Mission, saw the post, she couldn’t ignore the plea. Driven by compassion, she rushed to the scene, knowing these kittens needed her help.

Upon arriving, Astrof looked into the trash can and saw the abandoned babies, their eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. “They were just so defeated,” she shared in a video for The Dodo, describing their helplessness. Without hesitation, Astrof carefully scooped up each kitten, taking them into her loving care.

At first, the kittens were wary, having experienced so much trauma. Their tiny bodies were tense, and they responded with defensiveness — spitting and hissing, as if the world had hurt them. But Astrof’s patient love began to work wonders. “These spicy little kitties that were kissing and spitting became just babies within a day,” she said, reflecting on how quickly they warmed up.

Astrof found a temporary foster home for the kittens, but her mission wasn’t over. She began to search for the perfect permanent home, reaching out to her network of adopters. Elyse, a cat lover, came into the picture and began visiting the kittens regularly. Week by week, Elyse’s bond with them grew, and it wasn’t long before she realized she couldn’t bear to separate them. “It just became… four or nothing,” she said. “I couldn’t break them up, right?”

Today, the four kittens who were once shivering in a trash can are now thriving in their forever home, with Elyse as their loving mom. “To see their personalities and how they’ve grown, how comfortable they are in a home, loved and cherished — it’s just heartwarming,” Elyse shared.

These once defeated kittens are now symbols of resilience and transformation, thanks to the kindness of rescuers like Shira and Elyse. If you want to support animals like them, consider donating to The Animal Rescue Mission, helping more creatures find their second chance at life.