Her name is Pluto. But on this planet, James Straley would just call her a survivor.

“Someone had beaten up this kitten pretty bad,” the director of the Clark County Humane Society said.

With Pluto now wide-eyed and purring, Straley said it’s easy to forget that just two weeks ago humane society investigators found her bleeding and clinging to life. Springfield police said one of her owners called them after finding blood all over her kitchen and her husband, 23-year-old Justin Hall, missing. So was Pluto.

“(She) followed the blood trail to the back of the property and found this kitten that had apparently been beaten up pretty good and stuffed into a trash can inside a bloody T-shirt,” Straley said.

Pluto was rushed to a local veterinarian, where it was discovered she had a concussion as well as cuts and bruises.

“Then it was waiting to see if the cat was going to make it or not and how much fight she really had left in her,” Straley said.

Thanks to the love and affection of staff, Straley said the kitten is thriving.

“She’s very, very friendly and apparently isn’t holding the rest of us accountable for what happened to her,” he said. “It restores your faith in animals.”

Meanwhile, Hall was arrested and charged with one county of animal cruelty. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and is out on his own recognizance until a trial, according to Clark County Municipal Court records.

While the humane society has possession of the kitten now, Straley said the outcome of Hall’s case will determine whether than can permanently remove her from the home.

“It’s just about giving her extra love and extra care and making sure that she finds a home that’s going to give her the same thing,” he said.