The warmer weather came just in time for a kitten who was found with his front paws frozen to a metal fence in Dorchester last weekend.

Dubbed “Ralphie’’ by the employees of the MSPCA Angell Animal Medical Center, after the classic film A Christmas Story, in which a boy got his tongue stuck to a pole (though it wasn’t Ralphie who did that, the sentiment is still there), the 6- or 7-week-old kitten was found Saturday evening. A local man heard the kitten’s cries and used warm water to free his feet before taking him to Angell in Jamaica Plain.

Ralphie’s paws are blistered, but Halpin said they will heal on their own accord. —MSPCA-Angell


Dr. Meagan Rock delivered emergency care, which included warming the kitten with blankets and heated water bottles, and administered pain medicine for his blistered paws.

Rock will be fostering Ralphie at her home until he makes a complete recovery. Then he will be brought back to the MSPCA to be neutered, immunized, and placed for adoption.

Rob Halpin, an MSPCA spokesman, told Boston.com that will happen in the next week or so.

“He’s little, and he’s adorable,’’ he said. “He’ll likely go into a new home very quickly.’’

The MSPCA says “Ralphie much prefers the comfort of a home vs. life on the streets.’’ —MSPCA-Angell

Halpin said that, though the area has been fortunate to see a significant decrease of homeless cats and dogs, this situation has happened before.

“We’ve seen dogs and cats with their faces, lips, and more commonly their paws stuck to fences or poles in the bitter cold,’’ he said. “But it appears Boston is on the other side of that weather.’’

Halpin said that Ralphie is a friendly kitten but was clearly a stray. Anyone interested in adopting Ralphie or another animal in need can email adoption@mspca.org for more information.