Thanks to a passerby and two construction workers, Tiki the cat made it to safety.
In Massachusetts, USA, there is a 20-year-old blind black-and-white cat named Tiki who enjoys wandering outside. However, during one of his outdoor excursions, he caused quite a scare when he was spotted on ice floating in a pond and then accidentally fell in.
He has an alert passerby and a couple of nearby construction workers to thank for his rescue.
A passerby named Dawn Felicani recalled her panic upon witnessing the situation on Thursday, saying, “I heard crackling sounds, and I was absolutely hysterical. Suddenly, Tiki fell into the water with just his little head sticking out. I was in tears and completely panicked.”
Dawn promptly contacted the first responders and a local animal control officer in Westford on Monday. Two construction workers from a nearby house sprang into action: one got into a rowboat while the other pushed him out onto Nabnasset Pond. Using a shovel, the worker in the boat broke through the ice and successfully rescued Tiki from the water.
Tiki was taken inside, toweled off and wrapped in blankets.
Animal control officer Kirsten Hirschler said in a news release that Tiki was shivering, lethargic and in shock. He was taken to a veterinarian. She said that his temperature was so low “it didn’t even register on the thermometer.”
She said she believed that Tiki might have been chased onto the ice by a predator and found himself stuck there. He usually doesn’t venture that far, his owner John Arden said Thursday.
Tiki is doing well and is acting like nothing ever happened, Arden said.
He and his wife have owned Tiki since he was a kitten. He’s been blind for about a year, but still gets about fine.
“He’s pretty annoyed that he can’t go back outside,” Arden said.
For more local stories continue with us on our NEWS CENTER Maine+ streaming app.
More NEWS CENTER Maine stories
For the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic alerts, download the NEWS CENTER Maine mobile app.
