When a staff member arrived at the Huron Humane Society of Alpena one morning, something near the front door immediately caught her eye.
A small box of cat food sat neatly on the ground, next to a taped-up Smirnoff box — the kind people sometimes use for donations.
At first glance, it looked like someone had dropped off supplies. But when the worker looked closer, she noticed the box was empty.
Then she saw movement.
Peeking out from behind the whiteboard that displayed the shelter’s hours was a tiny kitten, nervously darting back and forth. Somehow, he’d escaped from the box and had been waiting outside — cold, alone, and with no way to get back in.
Beside the box was a handwritten note.
The message explained that the kitten had tested positive for feline leukemia, a virus that can spread easily among cats. The writer said they couldn’t keep him because they already had another cat at home. They’d named him Ashtray.
“We’re sorry we couldn’t keep him,” the note read. “The previous owner didn't tell us he had leukemia while we already have another cat. He has a few fleas but we gave him a dawn bath. He's very playful and loves cuddling, his favorite toy is the mouse we gave him and likes the food we put with.”
The staff member’s heart sank. No one knew how long the kitten had been sitting there, waiting for someone to notice him. She quickly scooped him up, gave him food and water, and set him in a warm carrier with a heating pad.
Aside from being a little underweight, the kitten was in good shape — and endlessly sweet. Because it was Halloween season, the team decided to give him a spooky new name: Freddy Krueger.
The shelter staff was relieved that Freddy was safe, but they also wanted to remind the public that there’s always a better way to surrender a pet.
“You made the right choice by bringing him somewhere safe,” they wrote on Facebook. “But please — call first. We’re here to help. Leaving an animal, even at a shelter, isn’t the right way.”
Now safe and loved, Freddy is showing everyone just how affectionate and resilient he is. He purrs, plays, and soaks up every bit of attention — proof of the loving little soul described in that note.
The shelter is currently testing and monitoring Freddy’s health to confirm whether he truly has feline leukemia. Even if he does, the condition can often be managed, and Freddy still has every chance at a happy, healthy life.
Hopefully, before long, the little kitten who once waited alone by a shelter door will finally find the forever home he’s been searching for.
