In a heartwarming display of community spirit, the town of White House recently came together to rescue three abandoned kittens found hiding in a drainage pipe, proving that there are indeed angels among us.

The story began when Mary Ann Phipps, a local animal lover, discovered the frightened felines with her 14-year-old daughter.

“I was pulling out of Speedway and there were some kittens playing in the ditch,” Mary Ann explains. “It looked like they had been abandoned because they were starving and skinny, so my daughter and I got out of the car. Before we could grab them, they ran away.”

For some people, that might have been the end of the story, but for Mary Ann, it was only the beginning.

“I went home, and my two other daughters wanted to go back, so of course we did, and we were able to catch one of them,” she says.

Knowing the other kittens wouldn’t survive long without help, Mary Ann immediately took to social media, posting a plea for assistance: “I made a post on Hip White House, and there was an outpouring of positivity. I was surprised that so many people reached out wanting to help get the kittens or give them a home.”

Within hours, Mary Ann’s message spread through the community, igniting a wave of compassion as neighbors rallied together, sharing the post and mobilizing to help the kittens. When Mary Ann and her daughters returned to the drainpipe, a small group had gathered, united by a common goal: to save the tiny lives trapped inside.

Among those who answered the call was an unsung hero. Without hesitation, a solitary man stepped out from the crowd, crawled into the narrow pipe, and gently retrieved each kitten.

And that’s where this story expanded to involve even more angels.

Once the kittens were safely ensconced in Mary Ann’s home, she contacted Gigi’s Rescue, a dedicated non-profit organization that has been operating since 2016 to find foster and forever homes for abandoned and stray animals. Founded by Glenda Kay Sheppard, the rescue has successfully placed countless dogs and cats into loving families. Gigi’s mission is to ensure that no animal is left behind, and they rely heavily on the goodwill of volunteers and community support to ensure its success.

Glenda and the foster families who work with Gigi’s provide unconditional love and support for the animals they foster, knowing they will someday say goodbye as the animals they have grown to love move on to their permanent homes. In addition to holding down a full-time job, Glenda fields between 100-150 emails per day from community members requesting assistance or fostering.

Although Gigi’s Rescue could not accommodate the recued kittens as all of their foster homes were at capacity, Glenda offered to assist Mary Ann with veterinary care, as well as assistance in finding permanent homes.

As the rescued kittens were safely placed in the arms of their new families, their story became a shining example of how the actions of one can spark the movement of many, drawing out the kindness that resides in each of us. Mary Ann’s quick action and the overwhelming response from the community not only saved three little lives, but also reinforced the idea that together, we can make a difference.

Learn more about Gigi's rescue here. Or to inquire about adopting the last rescued kitty, email sarah@staypositive.news.