CITY WORKERS SAVE KITTEN
FROM CITY HALL STORM DRAIN
RAPID CITY, SD—A kitten was saved Wednesday afternoon from a storm drain within the City Hall car parking zone, simply hours earlier than rain fell within the downtown space.
The saga started Wednesday round lunch time when City building inspector Lon Schnittgrund was heading to his automobile within the City Hall car parking zone. He heard a noise coming from the storm drain and found the young kitten who had slipped via the grate and located itself in an enormous predicament.
A name was made to the City’s Utility Maintenance Department and crew members Troy Landry and Chad Wilczynski arrived rapidly on scene to open the grate. Several City staff had gathered throughout the lunch interval to supply help and assist coax the kitten to security. Landry and Wilczynski descended into the storm drain field however the kitten, estimated at between 4 to 6 weeks of age, had been scared by the commotion and descended into the storm drain.
Despite the coaxing efforts of many City staff, the kitten stayed put – apparently discovering the depths and darkness of the storm drain extra comforting than eager to exit and make new buddies with City employees. City planner Alex Osborne even used some meatballs from his lunch, hoping to entice the kitten to security, however the kitten was having none of it.
The Humane Society offered a rescue cage which was set within the storm drain and staff took turns all through the afternoon checking on the kitten to see if it got here out for the meals. Landry and Wilczynski opened close by grates and labored to lure the kitten to security however the kitten stayed put.
Finally round 4 p.m., City electrician Mark Preble seen the kitten within the cage. With the assistance of IT analyst Steve Baumker, the pair lifted the grate, Preble descended into the field and introduced the kitten out to security. The rescue got here simply in time because the downtown space skilled rain throughout the night and in a single day hours Wednesday night time.
The kitten went home with two City staff for the night time and spent Thursday on the Utility Maintenance Department making new buddies and discovering a everlasting home with one of many staff.
The kitten has been given the identify ‘Stormy’.
