It’s shocking how cruel some people can be to animals, but thankfully there are also kind people in the world willing to step up and give these creatures the love they deserve.

That was the case recently, after an officer responded to a case about a kitten who was thrown from a vehicle — and knew that fate had brought them together.

According to WHSV, a person in Harrisonburg, Virginia witnessed a kitten thrown from a vehicle. They took the poor kitten home to bathe it, but couldn’t keep the cat themselves.

So, Officer Timothy Rugg of the Harrisonburg Police Department responded to the call, agreeing to pick up the kitten and bring it to the local SPCA. However, the cat quickly became attached to her new human friend, crawling up and snuggling on his neck.

May be an image of 1 person, wallaby and textFacebook/Harrisonburg Police Department
“She was hiding under a couch,” Officer Rugg told WHSV. “I reached under and got her. She immediately crawled onto my shoulder and perched onto it like a parrot and started purring.”

According to the police department, the kitten refused to leave the officer’s side when they arrived at the SPCA, and Rugg discovered that the shelter was near capacity. Rugg knew it was a sign they were meant to be together.

“I just felt like she wanted to be with me,” he told WHSV. “I thought I was a dog person, but we just kind of bonded immediately and I just knew I had to take her with me.”

Officer Rugg filled out a foster form and took the kitten, now named Charlie, home with him. The two now bring out the best in each other.

“She was super scared when I got her, but now she’s just super active. I’m having to arrange my entire apartment just to make it safe for curious Penny,” Officer Rugg said, adding that Charlie “makes his day better” and helps him relax.

“Officer Rugg and Charlie are now a bonafide crime fighting duo,” the Harrisonburg Police Department wrote. “Charlie’s favorite job is surveillance from Officer Rugg’s shoulder, as well as power napping and being adorable.”

“We are grateful for all of our officers and their willingness to answer every kind of call, day in and day out, and adapt to all kinds of situations…even fluffy ones with whiskers.”

It’s heartbreaking that Charlie was thrown out of a vehicle, but we’re so glad everything worked out in the end and he found a perfect new home! It’s definitely meant to be.