Willie Ortiz is a 76-year-old scrap metal collector and veteran from Hartford, Connecticut. He has been feeding stray animals in his neighborhood for 22 years and has never missed a day.
Regardless of the weather, whether it’s raining, snowing, or bitterly cold, he goes out and collects scrap metal to help pay for food and cat supplies. Willie looks after them, feeding them every night and neutering them to keep the stray population under control.
After seeing people ignore a hungry kitten pleading for food, he began feeding the stray cats. Willie explained, “People were pushing it away, and I could see it needed care.”
“I realize these animals don’t understand my accent, but I have to act.” He determined that caring for stray cats would be his life’s work from that day forward.
Willie goes around gathering leftovers to sell every morning, and every evening he returns home with tins of sardines and cat food, feeding the cats and keeping an eye on their health. He looks after some really healthy and well-fed cats.
Willie not only feeds the cats every day, but he also looks after the injured or sick cats and brings them in for medical attention.
He claims that his profession is his life and that it makes him sincerely happy, despite the fact that it is quite challenging. Willie said that he will continue to feed the cats as long as he is able.
Kathleen Schlentz set up a fund account last year to assist Willie to buy more cat food. It exceeded its goal, which is unsurprising, but you can still help our project by donating. We hope that those who support Willie’s cause continue to contribute.
“Right now, he feeds 16 colonies of stray and feral cats, totaling 68 cats, every night, 365 days a year, and he has never missed a night in 22 years,” Kathleen Schlentz wrote on GoFundMe. “He makes certain they have all they require to live as comfortably as possible.”
More people like Willie are needed in the world, people whose daily good deeds make the world a better place. However, not everyone agrees with his choice.
“People often ask why I feed them every day or complain that I give them too much,” Ortiz said. “Do you eat every day?” They eat once every 24 hours and you get three meals.”