Since there are both good and terrible individuals in the world, you can never be sure of the people you are surrounded by,

especially strangers. Since they lack the physical capabilities to communicate with people in this type of circumstance, animals have a harder time speaking up.

Fortunately, a good-hearted policeman saved a tiny cat that had been abandoned after being flung out of a car, and he had intended to adopt the pet and keep her forever.

According to a Good Morning America article from August 2023, a police officer from the Harrisonburg Police Department by the name of Timothy Rugg was called to rescue the kitten in July 2023.

He was on the scene as soon as it was reported that Penny-Furthing, a baby cat, had been thrown out a window on Old Furnace Road.

After Rugg saved the kitten, he told the source that she immediately crawled up his shoulder and began purring, indicating that she had found calm and protection.

Later, he brought the poor kitten to the Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), but it was too full to accept her.

They were able to examine her, though, and informed the policeman that the infant kitten was healthy aside from the pink eye, which was later treated.

According to Rugg, the facility agreed to let him take the 3-month-old cat home after he asked, but only after he completed a ‘foster process.’

Then, coincidentally on his wife’s birthday, he brought the cat to his home where he told his family that it was ‘an interesting surprise for her.’

‘I didn’t see myself owning a cat before that; I just felt like she wanted to be with me. We just kind of clicked right away,

and even though I thought I was a dog person, I just knew I had to take her with me, the officer stated.

Penny-Furthing, the cat’s name, is a pun on the phrases ‘fur thing” and ‘penny farthing.’ She was given the name Charlie at first, but they ultimately chose the given name.

Penny was initially quite frightened and reserved, but after a few weeks in foster care, she became

a ‘wild’ and ‘rambunctious’ cat. Rugg listed water play and mischief with houseplants as her two favorite pastimes.

The kitten was finally adopted by Rugg and his wife after spending three weeks at his house. In a July 2023 Instagram post, the RHSPCA gave Rugg praise.

Officer Rugg brought this little sweetie into the shelter this week as a stray, they stated in their report.

As soon as they entered the room, she was perched on his shoulder, but even before that, she had already gained entry into his heart.

Rugg was hailed as a hero by online users as one wrote, ‘Awwwww A true hero!
Another person added, ‘Angels & Heroes it never gets old, Thank-you Licks & Paws Forever.’

Rugg was praised by RHSPCA director Huck Nawaz in a statement to Good Morning America.

‘We’re very grateful for the support of our community members like Ofc. Rugg who open their hearts and homes for our animals in need,’ he said.

Additionally, the Harrisonburg Police Department published a touching article about Rugg and the newborn kitten that garnered hundreds of supportive responses from internet users.

Oh, I adore this! Officer Rugg, you are a wonderful person. God Bless,’ said one.