When U.S. service member Angel was deployed to a base in Africa, he never expected to meet a tiny cat who would change his life. Nala was small, scared, and living on her own, but she quickly found comfort in Angel. From the start, the two formed a strong bond. Angel promised Nala that one day he would bring her back to the United States and give her the safe, loving home she deserved.
Before Angel could begin planning her rescue, things became more complicated. Nala was pregnant, and soon after, she gave birth. Life on the base was dangerous for stray animals, and when base security took Nala’s kittens for population control, Angel’s fear grew. He knew Nala would be next. If security found her, he would never see her again.
Sadly, that fear became reality. Nala was captured and dumped far out in the desert, left to starve and die. Angel was heartbroken. By then, he had already been sent back to the United States and could do nothing to help her. He believed he had lost her forever.
But Nala’s story didn’t end there.
Against all odds, when Angel later returned to the base, something incredible happened. Nala found him. After being abandoned in the desert, she had wandered back, searching until she reached the one person she trusted. When Angel saw her again, he knew he could not wait another moment. He reached out to us right away for help.
We moved quickly to bring Nala into our care and give her the love and medical attention she needed. Thanks to the compassion and generosity of our supporters, Nala was safe at last. With donor support, we were able to cover her care and arrange her journey home.
Soon after, Nala boarded a flight to Florida, where she was welcomed home by Angel’s wife. Today, Nala is happy, safe, and very much at home. She loves spending her days curled up next to her family and can’t wait until Angel’s deployment is over so she can jump into the arms of the hero who saved her.