This story takes place in the Gorkomhoz Utility Center in Russia. A center employee Mikhail Tukash was checking the inside of each bag for metal when he noticed something moving in one of the garbage bags.
When he opened the bag, he nearly fainted...
Something Was Moving Inside The Bag
As Tukash was checking the garbage bags, he noticed something moving in his direction.
Confused, he looked closely and realized something was moving inside a large garbage bag next to him.
He Had A Job To Do
The employees at the Gorkomhoz Utility Center at the Zavolzhsky District in Russia have to ensure that there are no metal objects inside the garbage bags.
If they do find something, they have to remove it before sending it to the garbage truck. But Tukash had never seen anything like that before.
He Opened The Bag
Tukash approached the bag and cut it open. He was in a state of shock when he realized what was hiding inside.
How was this even possible?
It Was A Cat
Inside the bag was a cat. Fortunately, the animal wasn't hurt.
The cat had beautiful black and white fur and bright green eyes. So how did the animal end up inside a garbage bag?
He Was Shocked
"I felt something soft inside the bag," Tukash told Moskovsky Komsomolets.
"I cut the bag open slightly, and I saw eyes looking back at me." He wanted to cry when he saw the state the animal was in. "Why would someone do this to a cat?"
They Took It To The Vet
The cat didn't suffer any injuries, and there weren't any signs of abuse. They couldn't understand how the animal got inside the garbage bag. Did someone put it in there?
Tukash and his coworkers didn't want to take any risks, so they took the feline to the vet to get it checked out.
It Was Intentional
Tukash believes someone had tossed the animal inside the garbage bag and dumped it in the bin.
He wanted to find the person responsible and report them to the authorities. So, did he succeed?
They Didn't Know Who The Owner Was
However, Tukash quickly realized that finding the owner would be nearly impossible because the cat didn't have a collar with the person's contact information on it.
The owner might have forgotten about their cat, but the workers at the center certainly did not. They called the animal their Christmas Miracle, as they found him just before the holidays.
Deputy Minister
The cat became the Deputy Minister of the Animal Protection Department by the Nature and Cyclical Economy Ministry of Ulyanovsk Region.
The new Deputy Minister still doesn't have a name, but the staff said they are planning to throw a cat naming contest soon.
He Received Recognition
Since Tukash was the one who found the animal, he was given recognition for saving the cat's life.
He was rewarded with a bonus, which he used to buy Christmas presents for his family.
He Saved The Cat
"The cat was on the brink of death," the ministry said ." A little longer, and it would have ended up in the trash separator."
Tukash's boss praised him for saving the poor animal and giving it a chance at life.
They Took The Cat To The Ministry
“We’re taking the cat to our ministry, and all employees will take responsibility for it,” said environment minister Gulnara Rakhmatulina.
But this wasn't the first time that garbage workers rescued a pet.
Vezunka
Moscow's local television revealed that there had been other animals, including an African hedgehog named Vezunka.
"I want to appeal to pet owners: remember that you are responsible for those you have tamed."
Don't Abandon Your Pet
"If you can't keep your pet at home, you can always leave it in good hands or at a shelter," said Gulnara Rakhmatulina.
There are always people who want to adopt a pet.