Cat Injured in Home Explosion Gets Fresh Start After Adopter Spots Pet on News and Falls in Love (Exclusive)

Miss Piggy was found at site of the explosion 8 days after the incident

Thanks to several devoted animal lovers, Miss Piggy will be back on her paws soon.

A month ago, the tabby cat had the unfortunate luck of being under an Isanti County, Minnesota, home when it exploded, potentially due to a gas leak, per KSTP-TV.

The feline was found at the explosion site eight days after the incident when a man who lived at the residence and his daughter came to examine the home.

"They took her to the daughter's home — where the man has been staying — and brought her to the vet as soon as they could," Azure Davis, the founder and executive director of Ruff Start Rescue, tells PEOPLE.

Veterinarians examined the cat and found she had severe burns to all four of her paws, burns on her ears and nose, and was ill from smoke inhalation. Due to the extent of Miss Piggy's injuries and the care and money it would require to help her recover, the older man who brought the cat in made the difficult choice to surrender the pet to Ruff Start Rescue (RSR).

Prior to the explosion, Miss Piggy was part of a cat colony that lived near the home where the explosion occurred and was often fed by the man who brought her in and his wife.

"The man decided that it was best to surrender Miss Piggy to RSR due to the severity of her injuries, the amount of care she would need for her lengthy recovery, and the fact that his wife is still in the hospital recovering from her own injuries from the explosion and they are still without a home of their own for the time being," Davis explains.

RSR learned about Miss Piggy from the veterinary clinic that cared for her after the explosion.

"The clinic they brought her to has close ties to RSR as staff have adopted from Ruff Start, and they regularly donate excess supplies to us, so we were the first people they thought to reach out to to help Miss Piggy," Davis adds.

Related: Animal Control Officer Finds Cat Missing for 12 Years in His Backyard: 'Just Unbelievable'

Once Miss Piggy arrived at RSR, the rescue started providing the doting care the cat needed to feel good again. The rescue moved the feline into a foster home, ensured she received regular bandage changes, and put her on anti-inflammation and pain medications to help her heal.

"Her first few days were rough. She was in survival mode and very lethargic. She blossomed into a curious, loving, and ultra-cuddly kitten," Davis says of 4-month-old Miss Piggy's personality.

Miss Piggy's charming and sweet demeanor — and astounding survival story — secured her a forever home to look forward to.

Related: Rescue Cat Thought to Have Large Nose 'Actually Has Two Noses' Making Her 'a Real Rarity'

According to Davis, the cat already has an adopter lined up after she fully recovers. The new pet parent "saw her on the news and fell in love."

"She said she couldn't stop thinking about her and knew she had to be hers. What really cemented it was that one of her cats carried around an adorable pig toy in her mouth as a kitten, and she knew it was meant to be!" Davis says of how Miss Piggy found her new home with help from a local news story.

Davis is confident that Miss Piggy's recovery will inspire others to persevere when things seem impossible.

"It's good for people to remember not to give up hope. From the initial looks of Miss Piggy, you might have thought she should be let go of her suffering immediately. However, we know she was fighting for her life because she was still purring and cuddling even while in excruciating pain. Miss Piggy wanted to live, and we were going to do everything in our power to give her that chance," she says.

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The rescue founder also hopes that the cat's fantastic tale inspires others to help animals in need.

"It can be so easy to get caught up in the mindset that 'someone else will help' or 'we will be contacted if we are needed' instead of being proactive. When humans go through a crisis, animals are typically the last to be considered. Don't be afraid to offer assistance and speak up. Remember, animals rely on humans to be their voice and protect them," she adds.

To learn more about Ruff Start Rescue and support their life-saving work, visit the organization's website.

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Read the original article on People.