Antrim Fire Station crews praised for rescuing kitten trapped in generator
Antrim fire and rescue crews have been praised for freeing a kitten trapped in a generator.
A team from Antrim Fire Station were called to the scene in Templepatrick on the evening of Monday, July 20 by staff from Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary.
In a social media post, the charity outlined that a member of the public had alerted them to “constant, very distressed meowing” coming from the location.
"Earlier in the week, volunteers had visited the same location but couldn't locate the kittens that were reported,” the post added.
“However, when our team arrived, it became clear very quickly where one of them was - the meows were coming from inside [a] generator.”
The charity described how the kitten’s head and body were completely wedged inside a small, circular opening. “Her limbs were compressed and she had likely been stuck there for at least two to three days.
"The agony she must have felt is unimaginable.
"Even with our team's best efforts, we lacked the equipment and skills to free her safely. We dialled 999 and explained the situation to the Fire and Rescue Service. Within 15 minutes, a crew arrived.”
Further complicating the situation was the fact that the kitten was surrounded by live electrical wires and gas lines, necessitating a delicate rescue plan that involved crowbars and cutting through metal.
Shortly before 10pm, crews successfully freed the tiny animal. “We can’t put into words how grateful we are to the whole crew who came together to pull this off. We owe you all the biggest thanks,” Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary said.
“This little one was settled safely for the night and taken straight to our vets first thing this morning for a check-up. We are delighted to that despite everything she’s been through, she has no visible injuries.”
The kitten, who is approximately six weeks old, has been named Joni by her foster carers.
Following the incident, Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary said it is welcoming donations through its Facebook page after an exceptionally challenging year that saw a large volume of stray and unwanted kittens, alongside mounting veterinary bills.
“If you would like to help us cover the rest of the family’s veterinary fees and support their way to adoption, please consider leaving a small donation,” the organisation added.