In a heartwarming tale of community compassion, residents of Hell’s Kitchen rallied together to save a bodega cat named Leila, who had been abandoned for over five weeks in a closed deli. The saga began when concerned neighbors spotted Leila meowing in distress near a window at the Citra Gourmet Deli on Tenth Avenue. Ben Lagman, a resident, attempted to feed her through a broken door but realized the situation was dire. He promptly called 311 to report the animal neglect.
“When we found her, it was clear she was in terrible shape,” Lagman recalled. “The store was in disrepair with broken glass on the floor, and Leila was dirty, hungry, and clearly distressed.”
Tiff Winton, another neighbor involved in the rescue, described the scene inside the deli. “The poor thing was surviving on sporadic feedings from the owner, who would occasionally stop by. She was meowing incessantly, clearly starving and dehydrated,” Winton said.
Motivated to help, the neighbors organized through a local Facebook group and began coordinating efforts to rescue Leila. Their persistence paid off when they convinced the deli owner to surrender the cat. “She didn’t resist; it was as if she knew she was being saved,” Winton added.
Leila’s journey from abandonment to safety didn’t end there. Ben Lagman decided to adopt her, providing her with a new home where she quickly adjusted. “Within an hour of arriving, she was relaxed and purring on my bed,” Lagman said. Despite initial skittishness, Leila’s demeanor transformed remarkably, becoming extraordinarily affectionate.
The community’s support extended beyond just rescuing Leila. Lagman initiated a GoFundMe campaign to cover her veterinary care and future needs, reflecting the neighborhood’s commitment to ensuring her well-being. The veterinarian estimated that Leila is likely in her teens, emphasizing the challenges she faced before finding a loving home.
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Reflecting on the experience, Lagman expressed gratitude for the opportunity to provide Leila with a new lease on life. “I feel blessed to have her,” he said. The story of Leila’s rescue not only highlights the resilience of animals but also underscores the power of community compassion in transforming lives, one furry friend at a time.
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