Kitten Rescue in Massapequa

A small, distressed kitten was saved after spending several days in the sewers of Massapequa, right before a storm could have swept it away.

A dramatic video showed a determined rescue worker retrieving little Norton from a flooded tunnel, pulling the frightened cat into safety.

The rescue operation started on a rainy Saturday evening when a neighbor, out walking their dog, heard desperate cries coming from beneath a manhole on Harrison Street. It seems the kitten had been lost in the sewer system for days, although no one had spotted it until then.

With urgency, several neighbors came together, armed with crowbars, to open the sewer cover, allowing local animal rescuer John DeBacker to crawl in.

DeBacker realized she needed to act fast as the rising rainwater threatened to drown the little creature.

Inside the tunnel, DeBacker played a recording of a “meow,” which successfully guided her and the others to the spot where Norton had taken refuge.

Initially, the scared kitten tried to escape by darting deeper into the tunnel, but an experienced rescuer managed to catch him.

“We got him!” DeBacker exclaimed in the video, relief evident in her voice.

Norton was soon on the street, still yelling and trying to bite DeBacker in an effort to escape, before being placed in a carrier. He was taken to Second Chance Animal Rescue in Levittown, where he received a much-needed bath.

This adventurous little kitten now has a second chance at life and will be available for adoption after completing his vaccinations and health check.

Interestingly, DeBacker noted that the rescue ended up costing a friend named Jim a new outfit. Jim accidentally broke his glasses during the ordeal, and his clothes were so dirty from the sewage that they were beyond saving.

But, in the grand scheme of things, DeBacker felt it was worth it. “It’s the best feeling in the world,” she said of rescuing the animals. “I’m just glad the cat is safe.”