It was midnight when the call came in—a Good Samaritan heard faint mewing from a dumpster behind a La Mesa strip mall. Our Animal Alliance of San Diego team arrived to find a tiny orange tabby, no more than 3 weeks old, trapped under rotting food bags with:

• A severely infected eye (ruptured and leaking pus)

• Chemical burns on his paws (likely from cleaning products)

• Fleas so thick they looked like moving fur

We named him Tiny because at 11 ounces, he fit in the palm of our vet tech’s hand. The prognosis was grim.

The Fight for Survival

Tiny’s first 48 hours included:

• Emergency eye removal surgery

• Round-the-clock feedings with a syringe

• IV antibiotics for the sepsis spreading through his body

Volunteers took shifts singing to him—oddly, he only responded to 90s hip-hop. By week 3, against all odds, he gained 4 ounces and started batting at his stuffed hedgehog toy.

The Foster Who Couldn’t Let Go

Graphic designer Mia came to photograph adoptable pets “just for fun.” When Tiny climbed up her sweater sleeve and fell asleep in her hood, she burst into tears. Her adoption paperwork was signed before his stitches even came out.

Today, Tiny:
✓ Runs a popular Instagram (@tinythepirate) advocating for special needs pets
✓ “Helps” Mia design by walking across her keyboard
✓ Cuddles with her other rescue cat—a former bait dog named Tank

Why Tiny’s Story Matters

• Shows the hidden crisis of discarded neonatal kittens (SD’s #1 euthanized shelter population)

• Proves “unadoptable” animals often become the most extraordinary companions

• Your $35 donation provides:
  • 1 emergency eye surgery
  • 10 flea treatments
  • A week of kitten formula

Be Part of the Next Miracle