Dramatic Rescue Saves Cat Stuck in Storm Drain

Finding his way into a storm drain was no problem for Stormy. Getting out required a rescue crew, a street closure and nearly two weeks of effort and planning.

On May 10, our Emergency Animal Medical Technicians™ received a call regarding a cat who was stuck in a storm drain near 91^st Avenue and Encanto Boulevard. Despite several attempts, EAMTs were unable to rescue the one-year-old feline, but they weren’t going to give up on Stormy.

Instead, they stopped by each day and dropped canned food through the storm grate to ensure Stormy was able to eat.

After 12 days of caring for Stormy, EAMTs were finally able to devise a rescue plan with the assistance of the Phoenix Police Department and Southwest Environmental Testing, Inc.

On May 22, the intersection was closed off and EAMT Bernard Durance was lowered into the storm drain, where he crawled through several feet of dark tunnel before finding Stormy. Bernard was able to corral the friendly cat and then lift him to safety in a net.

Watch footage of Stormy’s dramatic rescue

Stormy was extremely thin following his ordeal, but otherwise uninjured. He has spent the past two weeks recovering with a compassionate foster family and is now ready to find his loving home. Stormy will be up for adoption Sunday, June 14 at our Sunnyslope Campus at 11 a.m.

You can help save more animals in danger like Stormy by making a lifesaving gift today to help support our EAMTs and other programs and services.