Struggling Kitten Pulled From Dumpster In California Finds Love And A New Life
Jandy Jorgensen, a well-known rescuer and foster hero in Sacramento, has saved countless kittens from tragic endings. But one story in particular stands out, her journey with a little fighter named Bruce.
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It all began with a call from the local shelter. A woman had found a newborn kitten under a dumpster, and the shelter immediately reached out to Jandy for help.
Before Jandy could arrive, she learned the woman had already taken the kitten in.
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Most people would have gone back home at that point, but something told Jandy not to. As she later explained in a video:
“There was something inside of me that wanted to go anyway. Since when is there only one newborn kitten? I started looking through all the dumpsters just to make sure there weren’t any other kittens.”
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Her instincts proved right. Beneath the last dumpster, Jandy discovered another newborn, tiny Bruce, weak and crying out softly for help.
She scooped him up, determined to give him a fighting chance.
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At first, Bruce behaved like any other newborn: eating, sleeping, and little else. But a few days later, Jandy’s phone rang again.
The woman who had rescued the first kitten, now named Duke, was struggling to care for her. She brought Duke to Jandy, and the siblings were reunited.
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For the next two months, Jandy poured her time into bottle-feeding and nurturing the pair until they grew strong. When the time came,
Duke found her forever home, with her original rescuer, Casey, who had fallen in love with her.
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As for Bruce, Jandy’s heart made the decision for her.
“I realized, I wasn’t gonna trust anybody else with this cat, he was mine.”
Bruce became what rescuers lovingly call a “foster fail”, a foster kitten who ends up being adopted by the very person who saved them.
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With Jandy, Bruce thrived. He grew into a playful, affectionate cat who loved outdoor walks and cuddles with his mom. But at just eight months old, something changed.
Bruce grew lethargic, his meows turned deep and strained, and Jandy knew something was wrong. At the vet, her worst fears were confirmed: Bruce had large-cell lymphoma, an aggressive cancer.
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The prognosis was grim, but Jandy refused to give up. She sought out the best oncologist in town, who urged her to bring Bruce in immediately. That very night, Bruce began emergency treatment.
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What followed was months of grueling medical care and antibiotics. But Bruce fought back. Against all odds, he went into remission. He returned to his adventurous self, exploring the outdoors with Jandy and savoring life to the fullest.
A year later, the cancer returned. Once again, Bruce faced the battle head-on, and once again, he triumphed.
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Beating cancer not once, but twice, Bruce became a symbol of resilience. Today, he’s known not just as a “dumpster kitten,” but as a warrior whose will to live inspires everyone who hears his story.
Jandy remains forever grateful to the veterinary team who stood by their side, but most of all, she’s grateful for the bond she shares with Bruce.
His story is proof that with love, determination, and a little luck, even the smallest and weakest can rise above the greatest challenges.
