The emotional photo of an 83-year-old man clutching his cat after losing everything in a house fire has gone viral after being shared by NTV Radyo, a Turkish broadcasting company.
According to reports, the fire occurred last Saturday after Ali Mese, the man featured in the photo, attempted to light a gas stove in his western Turkey residence. As Mese lit the stove, something went horribly wrong and an explosion occurred in his living room. From there, the resulting fire quickly swept through the house, devastating the single-story structure.
Hearing the noise and seeing the flames, Mese’s neighbors phoned the local fire brigade. Emergency respondents managed to save Mese, his wife, his son, and their small, blonde-furred cat, but everything else was completely lost.
In an emotional photo shared by NTV Radyo, you see Mese clutching the small, frightened cat to his chest as fire department workers survey the damage in the background. The emotion on Mese’s face is tangible, his cat acting as his only comfort in this devastating situation.
Below is a video that shows the scene following the fire.
Mese and his beloved cat were separated following the fire while Mese was in the hospital being treated for minor injuries. While there, unbeknownst to him, his photo was spreading around Turkey and stealing the heart of people everywhere.
The Turkish Red Crescent, a Turkish branch of the International Red Cross, caught wind Mese’s situation and ended up visiting him in the hospital to present him with gifts for his cat. Photos posted by Kerem Kinik, president of the Turkish Red Crescent, show Mese alongside his brand-new cat bed and carrier, courtesy of the organization.
Although Mese and his kitty were briefly separated, they were quickly reunited when kitty was brought to the hospital. In the last photo shared by NTV Radyo, you see Mese once again clutching his beloved cat, but this time, instead of grief, he wears a giant, thankful smile.
It is reported that 500,000 pets die in house fires every single year— but there are a few things you can do to help keep your pet safe. When it comes to cats, Pet Sitters says that being able to locate your cat in an emergency is most critical. “Cats don’t usually come when you call, so you will need to know where yours hides when it is stressed and scared,” they explain.
Next, having a conveniently placed cat carrier is always ideal, but a pillowcase can work will work in an emergency. Lastly, remember that your cat may run out of the house during a fire. Only 2% of cats brought to rescues are ever reunited with their families— so, do everything you can to tip the odds in your favor by investing in a microchip and/or ID tags beforehand.
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