Kitten Rescued From Sewer Pipe Gets New Home

CHICAGO — A kitten who was stuck in a sewer pipe for more than 10 hours has been adopted by his dedicated rescuers. The kitten has been named Piper, of course, in remembrance of his harrowing story.

Uptown resident Baran Balkan heard the tiny black kitten crying from inside the sewer pipe last month. Balkan and his husband, Tony Forbes, then spent an entire day trying to rescue the kitten.

"We knew that after this little guy had cried out for help and fought to survive being trapped in the darkness of long and twisted drainage pipes, we had to make sure the rest of his life would be filled with light and love," Balkan said. "He was already part of our hearts.”

Balkan and Forbes first tried to use a net to help the kitten, but that didn't work. They then enlisted the help of a neighbor, who used a saw to cut the pipe, but still no luck.

Balkan and Forbes reached out to the Chicago Fire Department and Chicago Cat Rescue, but even firefighters couldn't get the kitten out. Unfortunately, time was running out — rain was expected in Uptown, which meant the drainage system would fill with water.

Then, fortunately, J. Blanton Plumbing came to the rescue — the plumbers sent a camera into the piping to find out where the kitten was stuck. It turned out that the kitten was inside a six-inch diameter pipe, which was damaged.

The plumbing team got to work, and eventually pulled the kitten to safety.

“The unconditional love from a pet, especially a rescue animal, is one of the most amazing gifts you can receive," Balkan said. "It comes without judgements and is willingly given once trust is earned. We’ve learned that through by sharing our lives with our other two rescues; our dog, Ivy and cat, Kitty Purry."

Top image/video via YouTube