This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Submit your own rescue story here. Your story just might be the next to be featured on our blog!

Most of the time, we pick out our pets, We typically go to a shelter, but not this time. This is the story of how Charlie chose to love and trust a little boy who isn't always the most lovable.

In early July, my 7-year-old son came home with a super skinny orange and white intact male cat with beautiful amber eyes. He said the kitty was across the street at the church where they had been playing and was following him everywhere he went, including home.

We have quite a few feral cats in our neighborhood, but it was clear this kitty wasn't one of them. We already had a female cat and a dog, and I wasn't so sure how they would take to having another animal in the house. I also wasn't sure if he already had a home.

We have a screened in porch, so we decided to keep him there. We got him food dishes, a litter box, and a little kitty bed, then treated him for fleas and intestinal parasites. It soon became very clear that he was the most loving little guy I had ever met and he had a very special bond with my little guy.

The first day or two, he was very content on our porch. He felt safe, but soon he started begging to come inside with us. He desperately wanted to be loved all the time. Of course we couldn't resist.

My son has ADHD and behavioral issues, and there are many times Charlie is the only thing that will calm him. After a rough day at school, he comes home and immediately grabs his Charlie cat and goes to hide with him under the kitchen table. Charlie loves every second of it. He licks Jacob's face as soon as he picks him up and nestles right into his arms, and when my son isn't home, he will howl for him.

I'm not sure how old Charlie is, but I sure hope he is around for a long, long time.

Story submitted by Amanda from Peoria, Illinois.

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!