Burned feline, fawn now best friends

RALEIGH, NC (WTVD) — A year after a cat was found in the rubble of a Wake County home, he’s moving on with his life with a new companion.

Russell developed a fan base from around the world and has been being nursed back to good health for over a year at Raleigh’s Emergency Hospital and Urgent Care. His Raleigh home burned down and he was trapped in the rubble for four days suffering from severe burns.

And now the same animal shelter that helped Russell is extending help to another animal, a fawn.

“She came in, she was hungry but healthy,” Alyx Reinhardt said.

Reinhardt said a homeowner watched the fawn in their backyard for more than a day before bringing her in.

“Noticed that mom had not been around, and she started to try to nurse on his dog and she wouldn’t leave his porch,” Reinhardt said.

As soon as the fawn arrived, who the staff has named Darla, they said she fit right in. Especially when it comes to the resident cat, Russell.

“They’re happy to share a bed and be in the same room,” she said.

As for Russell’s recovery, it’s been more than a year of treatments and he continues to show improvement from all of his burns.

“Russell is doing well, we are still working on getting these back feet to heal, we are getting closer and closer every day,” Reinhardt said.