Henry finds new life with Furry Friends.
Furry Friends focuses on saving cats in need. This is just one of the many stories about how cats find a new life once they are rescued by us.
The young Siamese cat with striking blue eyes, arrived broken—his body telling a story no one witnessed but everyone could understand. Somewhere out there, something attacked him. By the time he was found, Henry’s throat had been nearly torn open. It is the kind of injury that stops you in your tracks, the kind that makes even seasoned rescuers catch their breath.
And yet—Henry lived.
When he came into the care of Furry Friends, the odds were uncertain. His wounds were severe, raw, and terrifyingly close to being unsurvivable. Every movement risked reopening trauma. Every breath was a quiet question: would he make it?
But Henry had something stronger than fear—he had the will to stay.
From the very beginning, there was a gentleness about him that didn’t match what he had endured. He didn’t lash out. He didn’t shut down completely. Instead, he leaned—ever so slightly—into the hands that were trying to save him. It was as if, despite everything, Henry chose trust.
His healing has not been easy. Wounds like his don’t just close overnight. They require constant care, careful monitoring, and a level of dedication that goes far beyond the basics. Cleaning, medication, watching for infection, making sure he can eat, making sure he can rest—every step matters. Every small improvement is a victory.
And there have been victories.
The swelling has begun to go down. The fragile edges of his injury are slowly knitting back together. His eyes, once dulled by pain, are starting to brighten again. He is eating. He is resting. He is healing.
Most remarkable of all, Henry is still kind.
Henry’s story is not finished. There is still a long road ahead, and recovery will take time. But Henry is here. He is alive. And he is surrounded by people who refuse to give up on him.
He purrs—softly, cautiously, but undeniably. He accepts comfort. He allows himself to be cared for. In a world that gave him every reason to be afraid, Henry is choosing, day by day, to believe in something better.
His story is not finished. There is still a long road ahead, and recovery will take time. But Henry is here. He is alive. And he is surrounded by people who refuse to give up on him.
Sometimes survival looks loud and triumphant.
Sometimes it looks like Henry—quiet, fragile, stitched together piece by piece, choosing to heal.
And that is its own kind of miracle.
Furry Friends: A Love-Filled Lifeline for Cats
Founded in 1999 in a volunteer’s home, Furry Friends has grown to become the largest "cat-only" rescue organization in the area. What started with a small group of passionate individuals has blossomed into a full-fledged shelter supported by 222 dedicated volunteers. Over the years, Furry Friends has made significant strides, adopting out 1,000 cats and kittens in 2025 alone, setting a new record for the organization.
Jenn Hutchman, Furry Friends’ Executive Director, shares, “Without our help and the support of our community, many of these cats would have faced euthanasia, been left to fend for themselves on the streets, or continued to contribute to the overwhelming overpopulation issue.” The crisis of homeless, abandoned, and abused cats in the region is at critical levels, prompting Furry Friends to focus on the most vulnerable.
As Marketing Director Diane Stevens explains, “The number of cat hoarding situations we encounter in Clark County is staggering. Many of the cats we rescue come from these heartbreaking environments.”
Despite the overwhelming need, Furry Friends does not receive city, county, or state funding. The organization relies heavily on fundraising and small grants to keep operations running smoothly.
Giving Back to the Community
· Cat Food Pantry. Sometimes the difference between keeping your cat or having to relinquish them can be not having the means for a few months’ worth of food. One of our Furry Friends missions is to help keep pets in their homes through temporary hardships by supplying food. All food has been donated to Furry Friends. We can also help supply food for feral colonies.
· Pet Resource Page. We have a pet resource page on our website itemizing organizations that can help the community with spay/neuter, pet food, and medical assistance that can be found at: http://furryfriendswa.org/pet-resources/.
· Education. We publish cat education stories for the public as a way of educating them about the best ways to care for their own cats and the feral cats in our community. Cat Tale stories are written by award winning writer and Furry Friends volunteer Nomi Berger. http://blogs.columbian.com/cat-tales/
About Furry Friends
Furry Friends is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit no-kill cat rescue serving Clark County, Washington and adjacent counties. Founded in 1999, we are an organization that rescues and then adopts out homeless, relinquished, and abused cats. We shelter and care for them as long as it takes to find them forever homes. For more information about Furry Friends, please visit the website at https://www.furryfriendswa.org/ or contact us at information@furryfriendsWA.org.