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Kitten rescued from storm drain in downtown Louisville. Watch the rescue here.

Within minutes of its rescue, this little kitten has already found a new home with one of its rescuers.
Credit: WHAS11 News
A tiny black kitten was rescued from a storm drain in downtown Louisville. | June 18, 2024

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Dana Fleming's walk to work in downtown Louisville took an unexpected, but heartwarming turn on Tuesday.

She was walking toward the Mazzoli Federal Building when she heard faint meows coming from somewhere nearby. Fleming searched under cars but couldn’t find the feline until she looked down into a storm drain and spotted the trapped kitten.

"It was pretty loud," she said. "I just see two little eyes looking straight up at me just meowing like crazy."

Fleming called MetroSafe to send someone to rescue the kitten. Several crew members from Louisville MSD, the U.S. Coast Guard and Roto-Rooter Plumbing showed up minutes later.

Credit: WHAS11 News
Dana Fleming called for help after hearing a kitten's cries for help on her way to work. | June 18, 2024

"[Fleming] called me and said 'I'm going to be a little bit late because I heard a cat down in a drain and I will not leave the scene until this cat is rescued,'" Mike Franke-Rose, a U.S. Coast Guard member and Fleming's co-worker, said. 

He said other Coast Guard members walked over to join Fleming and help crews coax out the kitten.

"We're all animal lovers," Franke-Rose said. "Who knows how long its been in there without food and water."

Credit: WHAS11 News
U.S. Coast Guard members peer down into the storm drain to try and pick up the trapped kitten with a basket. | June 18, 2024

The kitten was too far down for rescuers to reach down and pick it up. Instead, they used a basket that would pick the kitten up so they could pull it back up.

But despite crews mimicking the kitten’s meows for help, it wouldn’t stand on the basket.

That’s when staff members from Chef Shaq Kitchen came out with pieces of bacon and turkey to lure the kitten. 

WATCH THE RESCUE:

After a nearly two hour rescue, the kitten finally hopped in the basket and rescuers quickly grabbed it up.

"I'm very happy that he's out," Fleming said. "Now it's just finding him a good home."

But it wouldn't take long for the kitten to find its perfect match as three Coast Guard members clawed over who would get to take it home. 

Ultimately, it was Hayden King who got to bring the kitten to its new home.

Credit: WHAS11 News
King's new kitten was rescued from a storm drain in downtown Louisville. | June 18, 2024

“My wife’s always wanted a saved cat, so we already have two [and] she’s been talking about a third for a while now,” King said. “It’s a perfect time, she’s been talking about [wanting] a black one too.”

King said he’s considering calling the kitten “Bacon” since that’s what led to its rescue.

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