| Sat, 07 Jun 2025 01:19:21 GMTwww.thedodo.com

Guy Hears Cries During Hailstorm — Then Saves An Entire Family

The other day, Joseph Cinnante heard a strange noise ring out behind his house. As a full-time dog trainer and dad, he’s used to being in a loud environment — but this sound was different. “The cries were so faint, they almost sounded fake,” Cinnante told The Dodo. “I immediately thought [they were from] birds or something else.” Cinnante and a friend followed the cries outside, braving a hailstorm to find the source. He couldn’t quite comprehend what he was hearing until he got closer to the sound. “As I got closer and was able to pinpoint the general area where they were, it started to become clear: That’s a kitten crying,” Cinnante said. Joseph Cinnante Within minutes, Cinnante and his friend found a tiny, rain-soaked orange kitten beneath heavy brush on a hill. Cinnante was confused. His cat, Keely, had just given birth to three kittens, but the entire family was safe inside. Who was this little guy? “My first thought was, ‘How did her kitten end up all the way out here?!’ But I quickly realized this one was older, his eyes were open already and he had stripes,” Cinnante said. Joseph Cinnante The pair brought the orange kitten inside and warmed him up, then continued searching outside for more. 10 minutes later, they discovered two more kittens crying out for help. “They were in a hole not far from the orange one,” Cinnante said. Joseph Cinnante After rescuing the three kittens, Cinnante and his friend heard more faint kitten sounds from further up the hill. They continued searching, and an hour after rescuing the first kitten, they found a fourth baby struggling to survive on his own. Cinnante looked around for signs of a mother cat, perhaps one of his neighbor’s barn kitties, but he couldn’t find her anywhere. The kittens were far too young to survive without their mom, but thankfully, there was someone inside the house willing to take them in. Joseph Cinnante Keely was nursing her three kittens when Cinnante presented her with the four found on the hill. “At first, Keely was apprehensive,” Cinnante said. “You could tell she was confused and not completely comfortable with the new babies. But with a little time and patience, she came around and welcomed them as her own babies.” You can see footage of Keely adopting the babies here: For Cinannte, the kittens’ arrival was surprisingly serendipitous. As a dog trainer, Cinannte is dedicated to rescuing shelter dogs on the euthanasia list and training them before finding them amazing adoptive homes. While the kittens were much different from the dogs he trained, their presence seemed aligned with Cinannte’s mission. “The week we found these babies, we had started our non-profit to try and help more shelter animals in need,” Cinnante said. “We took the kittens as a sign that we were on the right path to helping more animals in need.” Joseph Cinnante Just like the dogs he rescues and trains, these kittens have a second chance at life thanks to Cinnante’s compassion. A few weeks after their rescue, the kittens are now all thriving and ready to go to adoptive homes. Cinnante is searching for the perfect homes for the remaining four kittens, and he’s hopeful they will all find loving families soon. Until then, he’ll keep admiring the kittens’ resilience and Keely’s willingness to raise them as her own. “She’s been such an incredible mom to her three and the adopted four,” Cinannte said.
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