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Independence kitten rescued from drain pipe
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Indy at Dr. Farrell's office before the drain pipe is removed
Independence, LA July 15, 2009
If there was ever an event that characterizes both being in the "wrong place at the wrong time" and "the right place at the right time," this kitten and its rescuers can lay claim to it.
For the kitten, it was the wrong place. A drain pipe. Whether in search of food, water, or a place to hide will never be known. But, the kitten got its head stuck in a drain pipe extending out of a washateria building. "We were notified by some concerned citizens," said John Henson, Maintenance Supervisor for the Town of Independence, who broke the pipe away from the building in hope of freeing the kitten. When the kitten's head remained stuck in the shattered end of pipe, Henson took the kitten back to City Hall to try to locate someone who could help. "At that point, I had gone as far as I could," said Henson, not wanting to harm the kitten. "It was in distress." He called Tangipahoa Parish Animal Control but they were not sure how long it would be before they could get someone there.
Now for the right place. Randy and Lynda Stegall from the Tangi Humane Society just happened to be meeting with City Hall employees to discuss plans to hold adoption days for their rescued animals at the town's Volunteer Fire Department. When they saw the kitten, they immediately drove it to one of their vets, Hickory Small Animal Hospital, calling ahead to alert Dr. Jason Farrell.
From the description the Stegalls gave of what they were bringing in, Dr. Farrell called his wife to bring him a dremel, a rotary tool. Farrell sedated the kitten and wrapped it in wet cloths to assure no sparks would touch the cat and used a thin, metal disk to grind away the pipe. "My staff was all gathered around ready to help. We kept a tongue depressor between the cat and the tool the entire time. I have never seen anything like this before and probably never will again, " he said. "That weighed at least five pounds or more," describing the pipe around the kitten's neck. Because of the heaviness and not knowing how long the kitten had been trapped, Farrell said it would take some time to see if there was any other damage. The kitten was given fluids and a bath to ensure no metal shavings had dropped on his fur and released to the care of Randy and Lynda.
At last check with Tangi Humane, the kitten is recuperating just fine. Randy and Lynda are considering naming him, Independence, Indy for short. And of course he will go up for adoption. After all, Indy definitely must know the meaning of freedom after today with the help of some very caring people. "We need to fatten him up a little. He's kind of skinny right now. And he needs some time to get over all this and to have some special attention," Randy said.
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