OAKLAND PARK, FLA. (WSVN) - A cat in Lauderdale Lakes proved it really did have nine lives when a fire rescue crew went above and beyond to make sure it was saved.
According to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, officials received reports of a cat with its paw stuck in a sewer cover along the 3500 block of Northwest 39th Street, Thursday afternoon.
When the fire rescue team attempted to free its paw from the metal cover, however, they were unsuccessful.
Here's the #kitten predicament @BrowardSheriff #FireRescue & @VCAPetHealth to the #rescue https://t.co/ghPF3BpYqs #animal rescue
— PIO Mike Jachles (@PIOMikeJ) August 11, 2016
“Our crews spent about 30 minutes on scene using hand tools,” Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Sheriff Jon O’Brien said. “The cat was in poor shape.”
Despite this, the team never gave up, and immediately transported the cat to Imperial Point Animal Hospital in Oakland Park — with its paw still attached to the plate.
There, he was sedated while veterinarians cut precisely around his arm.
“The kitten’s paw was in there up to his shoulder,” BSO deputy Mike Jachles said. “They just gingerly cut with a circular saw and hacksaw, and they did what firefighters do: they improvised.”
“We don’t know how long he was in there,” said Dr. Lara Wiseman, of Imperial Point Animal Hospital. “But because it was so swollen, he couldn’t break back out.”
#kitten doing well after #amazing rescue #surgery @BrowardSheriff #FireRescue @VCAPetHealth @ABC @CBSNews @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/8kF8nDMkoT
— PIO Mike Jachles (@PIOMikeJ) August 11, 2016
Thankfully, the surgery was a success and the cat only had a wound around its paw.
“We have decided to name him Captain,” Wiseman said. “Hopefully, will be looking for a home.”
Once Captain is vaccinated and microchipped, he will be put up for adoption.
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