Under clear July skies, traffic on State Route 2 in Glendale, California, slowed for one very small but important reason. A gray kitten was stranded on the center median wall as vehicles moved through the nearby lanes.
California Highway Patrol Officer S. Mkrtchyan spotted him while working the northbound freeway south of Interstate 210. Concerned for the tiny gray kitten’s safety, he coordinated a traffic break to slow the passing vehicles before trying to guide him out of harm’s way.
The kitten had other ideas about his rescue. Before anyone could guide him to safety, he scrambled beneath Officer Mkrtchyan’s parked patrol car and disappeared into its undercarriage, just beyond reach.
Freeway Service Patrol and Pasadena Humane Animal Control came to assist, but the rescue soon required more mechanical know-how than anyone expected. A navy-shirted tow truck driver responded, hoisted the patrol car, and removed its rear wheel, creating an opening that allowed the rescuers to finally reach the tiny stowaway and carry him to safety.
At Pasadena Humane, staff aptly named him Chip, perhaps with a wink to the classic California Highway Patrol TV series CHiPs. News of Chip’s unusual rescue soon reached Maricella, whose work alongside a local police department often brings her into contact with animals in need. Chip’s story tugged at Maricella’s heartstrings.
This time, she decided to make the tiny feline family. Maricella adopted Chip and renamed him Shadow. She described the kitten as sweet, cuddly, and playful.
The kitten who once hid beneath a patrol car is now growing more comfortable riding inside one. Shadow practices wearing a harness, carries plush sushi toys around his home, curls up for snuggles, and sometimes joins Maricella for an occasional pup cup from coffee-and-doughnut chain Dunkin, or, more aptly for Shadow, a catpuccino sans the coffee.
Lady Freethinker thanks everyone who helped bring Shadow off the freeway and into safety. Most of all, we celebrate Shadow’s happy ending and applaud Maricella for giving this little survivor the loving furever home she had hoped he would find.
For another rescue that ended with a safe home, read about a group of neglected puppies who were rescued by the police officers who saved them.
