A poor kitten with broken teeth, an injured eye and the most painful past, he never imagined that love and a happy life were possible for him.

After living most of his life on the streets, a 6-year-old orange tabby kitten was brought to the Animal Humane Society in Minnesota.

Unfortunately, he was covered in the painful marks that a life of neglect leaves on some animals. In addition, he tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus).

After 6 years on the street, Bruce’s teeth were not only broken, his heart was broken as well.

They named him Bruce Willis and at the shelter they were surprised to learn that, no matter how much he had suffered, he still had the capacity to give and receive love, expressing his affection with deep purrs.

They began the search for the loving home Bruce so richly deserved. Every time someone stopped to visit him at the shelter, he would start his purring engine and hope that would be the day.

Despite so much suffering, his heart was made only to love.

On International Cat Day (August 8), Sandra found out about Bruce on the shelter’s Facebook page and was completely smitten. When she saw his picture, she simply felt a great warmth in her heart.

She decided to go visit him, “just to look,” since her landlord doesn’t allow pets. When she approached his cage at the shelter, the sweet red-haired boy immediately looked at her with those sad eyes.

Stories like Bruce’s show us that some animals’ gratitude and capacity to love comes before their pain.

Sandra went home that day, heartbroken. She hoped that a good family would adopt him soon, but she couldn’t stop looking him up on the website every day.

When she found out he had an upper respiratory infection, she went to visit him and kept coming back to accompany him in his recovery.

Her look of sadness was irresistible.

After a month, Bruce still hadn’t found a home. Deep in her heart, Sandra knew he was meant to be hers.

She went to great lengths and convinced her landlord to make an exception to her apartment’s “no pets” rule.

Sandra sent a photo of Bruce to her landlord and said, “How can you say no to those eyes?” That’s how she got permission to take him home.

Bruce finally realized his dream. Within a minute, he lay on the floor of his new abode and began purring, stretching his paws as if he knew he was in his forever place.

She didn’t stop purring all night. Since that day, he has been following Sandra no matter where she goes.

It took Bruce a few days to get used to all the new things around him and realize that he no longer had to fight for food or fend for himself.

Bruce is now inseparable with his new mother and is happy to have a perfect home.

Now, he has a human to love and protect, and the tabby boy is extremely happy. As soon as Sandra sits down on the couch, Bruce comes running over and hugs her. He wakes up next to his mother every morning and lies curled up, purring in her arms at night.

Could there be a better ending to the story of a kitten’s anguish and suffering on the streets? The truth is, it would be impossible! Thanks to Sandra, Bruce will never have to be alone again.

This beautiful friendship truly touches the heart. How many more little animals are waiting for noble souls to fall in love with them, despite their harsh past.