Gelato showed us that hope is still alive!

HOPE MAKES US STRONGER.

We don't always have fancy equipment, endless funding, or every resource we wish we had.

But we do have hope, resourcefulness, and drive. And if not us, then who?

With the support of our community, the backbone of everything we do, we've learned that sometimes, a few wooden rulers, some zip ties, duct tape, an old cat harness, and a couple of Hot Wheels are all you need to change a life.

Please consider a donation to support the work we do for the animals in our community. And because we want to remember Gelato forever, you can pick up a t-shirt to share his stories for years to come! T-shirts were designed by local Ohio artist, Brittney Moore. Available for purchase in a variety of styles and colors in our online store: cac-shop

100% of the proceeds from Gelato's shirt will benefit the medical program at Cincinnati Animal CARE, helping provide lifesaving care for the more than 10,000 homeless and vulnerable animals who come through our doors each year as Hamilton County's animal shelter.

ADOPT. FOSTER. VOLUNTEER. DONATE. ADVOCATE.

GELATO'S STORY

About a month ago, a tiny kitten named Gelato came into our care after a Good Samaritan named Sayre spotted an open bag of cat food on the side of the road in Cincinnati, with several kittens eagerly eating the kibble.

There were five kittens in all, but one tiny guy stood out. Gelato appeared to have lost the use of his back legs.

Sayre kept the kittens safe overnight, then brought Gelato and his four siblings to Cincinnati Animal CARE for help.

One of our incredible veterinary technician leads, Mallory, took Gelato home to foster, something members of our dedicated medical team do every day for animals who need a little extra care. When she saw how hard Gelato was fighting to move, she did what our team has learned to do so well:

Make something out of "nothing."

That "nothing" turned out to be wooden rulers, zip ties, plenty of duct tape, an old cat harness, and, of course, HOT WHEELS.

Together, they became the perfect tiny wheelchair for Gelato, and his physical therapy was off to the races.

Since then, there's been no slowing him down.

Gelato continues to grow stronger every day, and when we shared his story on social media, thousands of people fell in love with the little kitten cruising around in his homemade Hot Wheels wheelchair.

Now, Gelato's story is traveling far beyond Cincinnati, with upcoming features from The Dodo and The Washington Post, and even support from Mattel, the makers of Hot Wheels.

So, we wanted to create something that celebrates Gelato, but also everything it represents.

Hope doesn't require perfect circumstances.

Sometimes, hope looks like a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital. Sometimes, it looks like rulers, duct tape, zip ties, and toy car wheels.

At Cincinnati Animal CARE, hope means finding a way forward, even when the answer isn't obvious. It means believing every animal deserves someone willing to try. And it means knowing that with a community behind us, we can do extraordinary things with whatever we have.

Wear Gelato's shirt proudly, and help us keep finding a way for the next animal who needs us.

Because hope makes us stronger.

T-shirt design by local Ohio artist Brittney of Moore Arts.