A two-month-old kitten whose life was saved after being rescued from a bucket of glue has found a permanent home with the foster parent who helped nurse him back to health. Staff at the Humane Society of North Texas revealed that they were inundated with adoption applications for tiny Elmer after sharing his story on social media in mid-April. The cat was discovered dehydrated and near death in a pot of glue before being painstakingly rehabilitated with canola oil baths and hours of massages.
From Glue Bucket to Loving Home
Elmer, named after a popular glue brand, has now become inseparable from Leah Owens, a 72-year-old volunteer with the Humane Society. Owens cared for Elmer through weeks of intensive treatment to remove hardened adhesive from his fur. She says his companionship has also helped her cope with the loss of her husband, Roger, who died in October from multiple myeloma. "He filled that void and just gave me a lot of joy, a lot of happiness," Owens told the Washington Post.
The Rescue Story
Elmer's ordeal began on March 31 when a good Samaritan brought him, covered in white glue, to the Humane Society's headquarters in Fort Worth, near Dallas. It remains unclear whether the kitten fell into the bucket or was placed there intentionally. Rescuers immediately worked to remove the glue before it hardened further, restricting his breathing and movement. Initial attempts with dish soap and olive oil failed, and veterinarians considered euthanasia until someone suggested canola oil.
Elmer was submerged in two gallons of canola oil. After several hours of gentle rubbing and massaging, most of the glue separated, revealing patches of his gray and white fur. "If that Good Samaritan had not come along, he probably would’ve died within minutes," said Misty Mendes, the rescue group’s director of shelter medicine.
A New Beginning
Now, a month later, Elmer weighs 2.5 pounds and has become a playful member of Owens's household, joining her three other cats: Rickey, 14; Tarzana, 2; and Poppy, 11 months. The Humane Society announced Elmer's adoption on Facebook, noting hundreds of inquiries but ultimately deciding his welfare was best served by "one of our dedicated foster heroes," referring to Owens. The post stated, "After recently losing her husband to cancer, she shared that her home had felt quiet and empty... When Elmer entered her life, he brought a sense of comfort, joy, and connection she hadn’t felt since his passing."
Elmer has now shed the foam collar that prevented him from licking the oil from his fur. He has developed a habit of nudging people's legs to encourage them to replicate the massages he received during recovery. "He honestly feels like every day is spa day," said Humane Society spokesperson Cassie Davidson.
