Ashley Ortiz

Last month, while refurbishing a vintage truck that had gone untouched for years, a man in England popped open the rusted hood to reveal a shocking scene.

It was a typical day at Ion Swamp for Hamp McClellan, a local conservationist who recently went out to find native reptiles and amphibians in his South Carolina community. McClellan’s afternoon was relatively uneventful, save for a few ratsnake and ribbon snake discoveries, until he suddenly came across something dark and fuzzy obstructing the swamp’s nature trail.

For the last two years, Nick has been building an elaborate miniature railroad in his front yard. With a functioning train track that winds around a lush garden of blooming foliage, Nick is constantly tending to his beloved railroad. Most days are the same, consisting of light yard work and train track maintenance. But recently, Nick went outside and spotted something unusual that he couldn’t ignore.

Let's find this sweet girl a home!

For the past year, Kate and her fiancé have admired a stray cat in their Los Angeles neighborhood from afar. Kate, who fosters kittens, puppies and nursing moms with litters, is always looking out for the homeless animals in her area, and this one adult cat — whom she named The Mayor — especially caught her attention.

Cooper, an 8-year-old Lab, is obsessed with his 1-year-old cat brother, Winston. Until Winston disappeared one day, and Cooper sat in the same spot for days, waiting for him to return.

Of the many patrons who pass through Sunnyhouse, a Korean cafe owned by Sunny Song, one of the most cherished was Zoro: a street cat who loved to hang out on their roof.

When Rebecca stepped onto the beach in Pensacola, Florida, one early March morning, she was already buzzing about the marine life she’d see. The sunrise along the Gulf Coast promised to be beautiful, but as an ocean enthusiast, Rebecca was most excited about the animals swimming by.

Let's find this sweet boy a home!

He's their best employee.