MONTANA -- This great story is being shared with anyone needing a smile; and to offer compliments to Officer Mary Johnson at Animal Control.
There was a mystery pipe under a house, about 5 inches across, that went 5 to 6 feet straight down, and somehow a kitten fell in (please spay and neuter!). After hearing intermittent cries overnight, the homeowners finally located him. Attempts were made using rope, a shop-vac and dangling pantyhose with tuna in the toe. With time ticking, and temperatures dropping, the homeowner began digging.
Animal Control was contacted, and even though it was getting close to 5 p.m., Johnson arrived.
Digging was slow, through hard ground full of roots and rocks. However, continuing to dig, exposing the pipe, and cutting it off would allow Johnson to maneuver a control stick into the pipe. A towel was pushed inside the pipe to protect the kitten from debris while the homeowner cut it with a saw.
He wasn’t crying much anymore and the angle of the control stick was still too tight.
After more digging and sawing, Johnson worked the control stick into the pipe. Three paws were stuck, so she could only secure his neck. Not knowing how deep the pipe went, we held our breath.
She carefully lifted. He hadn’t opened his eyes for a while, and this needed to work. Gently, the pole came up. The kitten didn’t slip, and Johnson grabbed him. After releasing the kitten, a neighbor warmed him in her coat while Johnson climbed out of the hole. The pipe was immediately sealed.
After a night in an incubator, and as much warm wet food as a tiny kitten can hold, “Digger” has a happy home, because the homeowners adopted him.
Thank you, Animal Control and Officer Johnson!
A. Sienknecht, Missoula
(The Missoulian - Dec 26, 2013)
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