Jaws of Life Used to Free Tiny Animal From Harrowing Experience
For
Immediate Release:
December
14, 2011
Contact:
Kristin
Richards 202-483-7382
Riverside, Calif. -- When a man discovered a small kitten trapped inside a piece of drainage pipe at his Mira Loma business on December 10, he immediately took the pipe to the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter near Riverside. Veterinary technicians sedated the frightened kitten and lubricated the pipe in an attempt to free him—but to no avail. That's when they called Station #16 of the CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department. Firefighters used a saw and the Jaws of Life to successfully extricate the kitten, who is now recovering and could soon be put up for adoption.
For their lifesaving effort, the firefighters of Station #16 will receive PETA's Compassionate Fire Department Award.
"Thanks to the kindness and know-how of the Station #16 firefighters, a little kitten who got into a bundle of trouble has a new lease on life," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "Riverside County is very fortunate to have first responders who are ready to protect and serve the area's human and four-legged residents."
Station #16 will receive a framed certificate and a box of vegan chocolates.
Things turned out well for this kitten, but that's not the case for homeless cats and dogs forced to survive on the streets, where they routinely become victims of disease, traffic, and animal abusers. That's why PETA vigorously promotes spaying and neutering all cats and dogs as the only effective way to take a bite out of the homeless-animal crisis.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.