NEWS
Cat rescued from sa国际传媒官网网页入口 storm drain, but concerns remain over its well-being
A man who pulled a cat from a Northeast Heights storm drain says he plans to keep it
Look what the cat dragged in.
A cat trapped for more than a week in a storm drain outside a Northeast Heights shopping center in sa国际传媒官网网页入口 is now out of the drain, but its appearance on a local TV station has some still concerned for its well-being.
A man who identified himself as Robert Naranjo visited the KOB-TV offices on Wednesday, holding the tabby he named Ukraine.
鈥淚 climbed down in there, got him and brought it with me, 鈥� 鈥淚 guess I'm going to have to keep him.鈥�
While Wright was interviewing Naranjo on camera, the cat seemed docile and open to pets from the news reporter.
Wright asked Naranjo about taking the cat to a professional for a checkup. Naranjo insisted on keeping the cat to prevent it from meowing or screaming.
鈥淚鈥檓 not taking him to animal control and have him scared again,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 taking him with me.鈥�
Wright asked how the potential owner of the cat could contact Naranjo.
鈥淚鈥檒l be at one of the karaoke places tonight, probably in the Northeast Heights, Billiard Palace or Silva Lanes, so they鈥檒l just have to wait till they see me,鈥� Naranjo said.
Viewers of Wright鈥檚 interview with Naranjo expressed concern on the KOB Facebook page.
鈥淭he cat needs to get checked out please don鈥檛 let him take him!!!!鈥� Lee Dominique wrote in the comment section.
Cat鈥檚 journey
The cat had been trapped in the Eastdale Shopping Center storm drain since at least June 1.
When students at Arthur Murray Dance Studio 鈥� one of the businesses within the shopping center 鈥� heard meowing outside, they asked their instructors for help finding the source.
鈥淎t first we were pretty surprised,鈥� said Cory, a manager at the dance studio who did not want to provide her last name. 鈥淭hen we saw it, poor cat looked so sad, wanting to get out.鈥�
sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Fire Rescue responded but was unable to free the cat.
On Wednesday, property management removed the storm drain cover, giving the cat an exit. They also set traps.
Neighbors and business owners patrolled the area, hoping the cat would emerge.
鈥淚鈥檓 a cat lover but I'm allergic to cats, so when I heard that this cat鈥檚 been here for a week I was pretty concerned,鈥� said Elizabeth Lecam, a nearby resident who was at the shopping center Wednesday.
Following the KOB interview, Cory and other instructors at the dance academy questioned how Naranjo ended up with the cat. They said he was lurking around the building the night before and had been told not to climb down into the storm drain.
Karmina Conde is a reporter for the Journal. You can reach her at kconderuiz@abqjournal.com
