PHOENIX, AZ — Staff at the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) refused to give up on a tiny orphaned kitten who couldn’t walk—so they engineered a creative solution to get him back on his feet.
Zion, a five-day-old domestic shorthair kitten, arrived at AHS’s Bottle Baby Intensive Care Unit unable to use his back legs properly. Determined to help him, the shelter’s team crafted miniature splints using tongue depressors, gauze, medical wrap, and tape to stabilize his limbs.
The DIY treatment worked. After just over a week of splinting, round-the-clock care, and affection, Zion regained full use of his legs and was reunited with his littermates in a foster home.
Now eight weeks old, Zion is thriving. “He plays with his kitten siblings—and even dozes off in his foster sister’s arms while she practices reading,” AHS shared in a statement to PEOPLE.
The shelter, which has cared for more than 1,300 orphaned kittens this year alone, relies entirely on donations. An anonymous supporter has pledged to match contributions up to $25,000 through July 29, doubling the impact of community generosity.
As Zion awaits adoption, his journey stands as a testament to resilience—and the power of inventive compassion.
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