“I have no clue how [she] ended up there.” Last week in Fresno, a crowd gazed up at the freeway bridge above and witnessed something nearly unbelievable.
Wedged in a hole in the bridge’s concrete, with a 60-foot drop beneath, was a tiny kitten. Her head protruded from the hole, and she cried out for help.
Animal control officer Rudy Pina was summoned to the scene, and he responded swiftly. Upon arrival, he was utterly perplexed.
“I can’t fathom how [she] ended up there,” Pina recounted.
Having previously rescued animals from freeway locations, Pina faced a unique challenge with the kitten trapped on the bridge. Unable to pull over safely, he coordinated a traffic break. This temporary halt in traffic granted Pina the opportunity to dash across the bridge and attempt the rescue.
From that point, the rescue became a delicate process.
“I was really concerned that the cat might attempt to jump away from me,” Pina expressed.
To reach her, Pina had to maneuver to the opposite side of the bridge, carefully retrieve the kitten from outside the hole, and carry her to safety. Onlookers held their breath as Pina performed the rescue, and cheers erupted from the crowd below.
Immediately after the rescue, Pina noted the kitten was “quite nervous.” However, after being transported to a shelter, she is settling in well. Shelter volunteers have described her as “incredibly sweet,” despite her frightening experience.
Despite the harrowing ordeal, the kitten is now safe and secure. She is currently up for adoption at Fresno Animal Center, where it’s expected she’ll find a loving home soon.
