A beloved tabby cat named Morgan sparked an expensive multi-day rescue operation in Yarmouth, Maine, after becoming trapped in a storm drain system.
Morgan's owner, Krystal Malinovskii, grew worried when her outdoor cat didn't return home for several days, News Center Maine reported. "He's one of those cats who's hard to keep indoors. I was worried, but hopeful since he'd always come home before," Malinovskii said in a social media post about Morgan's extended absence.
On Nov. 12, a concerned resident, unbeknownst to Malinovskii, heard persistent meowing from a storm drain and posted about it on a Yarmouth community page. The post mobilized neighbors, town workers, and volunteers, including the Yarmouth Police, Fire Department, Wastewater Department, Animal Control, and Maine Lost Cat Recovery.
By Nov. 14, Malinovskii discovered the post about the meows from the storm drain and joined the rescue efforts. After a series of failed rescue attempts, the wastewater department suggested using a robotic camera. Malinovskii agreed to pay for the costly operation.
The next day, Morgan's exact location 8 feet underground was determined, and the cat was driven through the 100-foot pipe and lifted to safety.
The relief of the dramatic rescue was short-lived, as Morgan was so spooked from the experience, she ran immediately into the woods.
Undeterred, the invested community broke off into search crews and set up live traps. However, Morgan surprised everyone by returning home on his own just four hours later.
"It was just an incredible reunion. Everyone was crying and so was Morgan, but I think he was mostly yowling for food!" Malinovskii said. "I want to thank the wastewater department crew, the police, fire, animal control, Maine Lost Cat Recovery, and especially my observant neighbors. Without their help, this story could have had a very different ending."
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