While waiting for her train on a platform in New York City, Kristine Malone heard something peculiar: little cries echoed from the tracks below! She scrutinized the area around the rails and gravel but initially saw nothing unusual. Then, she spotted a small, fuzzy orange ball nestled between the stones of a stone wall. Looking up at her, the little creature emitted a loud cry, signaling its need for help!
Rescue Mission
To assist the trapped animal, Kristine quickly posted on social media, hoping to reach someone with expertise. Fortunately, John Debacker, the vice president of Long Island Cat/Kitten Solution, Inc., saw the post right away and offered to help.
Despite the daunting task ahead, John faced some unexpected challenges when he arrived at the New York City train station. “It was tricky getting to the kitten because he was down in the tracks. We were trying to figure out how to get to the kitten from street level, but we couldn’t do that without putting ourselves in danger,” John shared with The Dodo.
Realizing he needed assistance, John approached two Metro-North police officers, who were happy to help. They shared a passion for animals, and “They shut off the power and escorted us onto the tracks,” he explained.
Once they were on the tracks and close to the little furball, they discovered it was actually a tiny kitten. To avoid frightening him, John and the rescue team worked swiftly, using a rescue net to safely scoop him up and get him to safety.
The rescue mission was a triumphant success! The proud team made their way to the platform, holding the little orange kitten safely in their arms.
John, an experienced rescuer seasoned with handling stray cats, saw something unique in this little one. “He was very scared, but I’ve received many feral kittens, and he’s definitely not like a typical feral cat. He was really sweet almost instantly,” he reflected.
New Life
Naming him Metro, John took the kitten to a local shelter called Last Hope, Inc. for temporary housing. A few weeks later, the woman who initially heard Metro’s cries, Kristine Malone, decided to meet the kitten and give him a loving home.
Metro is now enjoying the best life imaginable with Kristine and her daughter, free from worries of dangerous situations. While he’s glad for the outcome, I bet he will think twice before approaching train tracks again. “[Malone] and her daughter, Destiny, sing Metro’s praises, and he is thoroughly enjoying his new life in his new home… like a feline fairy tale,” Last Hope, Inc. noted in a Facebook post.
