Willie Ortiz is a 76-year-old man, a veteran and a scrap metal collector from Hartford, Connecticut. He has been feeding stray cats in his area for 22 years, not missing a single day. Despite rain, snow or freezing cold, he still goes out, collects scrap metal to pay for the food and cat supplies. Willie cares for them, feeding them each night as well as spraying and neutering them so the stray population doesn’t grow out of control.
… He started feeding for the stray cats after he saw people ignoring a hungry kitten begging for food. Every morning Willie drives around collecting scraps to sell, and every evening he leaves his home with tins of sardines and cat food, feeds the cats, and checks on their health. Not only does Willie feed the cats every day, he cares for the injured or sick cats and bring them in to get the medical care they need. Although his job is very difficult, Willie says that it is his life and it makes him truly happy. Willie says he will continue feeding the cats for as long as he can.