By Robbyn Mitchell, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
TAMPA — A bucket, a rope and some cat food were the only tools available to two police officers trying to save a kitten stranded in the sewers Tuesday evening.
Neighbors called 911 to report the cat meowing in a storm drain at Lake Avenue and N 22nd Street around 7:01 p.m.
Field Training Officer Colin McCoy and Probationary Officer Aaron Campbell received the call.
They found the kitten sitting on a small ledge 9 feet below the pavement. Neighbors provided the bucket, rope and cat food.
McCoy and Campbell lined the bucket with the food, then lowered it down to the cat.
The kitten jumped in the bucket and was pulled to safety.
The officers took the tiny cat into a local veterinarian for an examination. The doctor decided to keep the homeless animal.