MICHIGAN – Thanks to a kind resident with great hearing and the Grand Rapids Environmental Services Department, a stray kitten now has a brand new forever home as of Thursday afternoon.
The wee one’s adventure started when 3-1-1 took a call about faint “meows” that could be heard coming from a storm drain on Aug. 4. The ESD team immediately responded and found a kitten inside. Unfortunately, initial rescue efforts were not successful at all, as the scared kitten moved deeper into the sewer.
Just about out of ideas and reach, the crew cleared the standing water from the drain to ensure the kitten would be safe until it could be reached.
ESD asked some neighbors to keep watch and call back if the kitten came back within reach.
That particular call came about 12 hours later, around 3 a.m.
This time, crews were actually able to reach him and bring him to safety.
Thanks to an alert resident and great teamwork, a stray kitten (now named Puddles) is safe and in a new home after finding himself in a storm drain on the city’s southeast side.
(Photo: City of Grand Rapids Environmental Services Department)
The kitten was starving and covered in fleas. Requiring immediate treatment and care, he was taken from the scene to the Kent County Animal Shelter.
Staff members there named him “Puddles,” but had no idea of his back story.
After receiving some much needed treatment, Puddles was then taken to a local animal rescue organization, Vicky’s Pet Connection. That’s where ESD’s own stormwater manager, Carrie Rivette, adopted him.
“My cat just passed away, so when I heard about the rescue of Puddles, I felt like it was fate for him to come home with me,” Rivette stated in a press release.
The city’s ESD team explains they are often dispatched to keep storm catch basins clear, but it is very unusual for them to retrieve animals.
“I’m proud of our front line crews who work hard 24/7 to ensure that all lives are safe,” stated Mike Lunn, manager of the ESD in the release.
“He was an excellent ‘save’ from the sewer system and we are all very grateful for the efforts involved in the 3 a.m. rescue of this little, lost soul!”
What a sweet rescue story. What a little cutie!
