On April 12, 2026, a six-week-old kitten was rescued from a vat of industrial glue and has been named Elmer. The humane society in North Texas reported that a good Samaritan brought the kitten in after finding it covered in strong adhesive. Cassie Davidson, the senior director of marketing and communications at the Humane Society of North Texas, spoke with ABC News about the urgent response to the situation.
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Upon arrival, Elmer was severely dehydrated and unable to eat or drink due to the glue that had trapped him. The humane society quickly initiated a rescue effort. Davidson noted, "We immediately sprung into action. We didn't even ask questions. We were just like, 'Let's go!'"
The medical team had to experiment with various solvents and ultimately found that canola oil was the most effective solution for removing the glue. Approximately four staff members worked diligently to apply around two gallons of canola oil over seven hours while offering Elmer nutritious food. They then wrapped gauze around him to allow the oil to soak into his fur, resulting in significant removal of the glue.
Davidson remarked on the labor-intensive process, saying, "It was very, very labor intensive, but we were committed … and then he started to perk up as more and more glue was removed. He kind of just found his spark again." Meanwhile, the humane society’s foster team will continue to assist Elmer, including regular oil baths to eliminate the remaining glue. Once he is older and healthier, he is expected to be available for adoption. "He just wants love," Davidson added.