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Valley cat rescued from 30-foot-deep drain won't be put down

Reported by: Tim Vetscher
Email: tvetscher@abc15.com
Reported by: Katrina Wessman
Last Update: 4/13/2009 2:11 pm

	Cat rescued from Valley drain won't be put down after all
	Creative thinking saves cat stuck in West Valley storm drain

(Isaac Salazar)

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Man claims Phoenix officer wouldn't let him rescue cat

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A cat rescued Tuesday from a 30-foot-deep storm drain by an ABC15 photojournalist will not be euthanized as first thought, according to the Arizona Humane Society.

Dr. Leo Egar with the Arizona Humane Society's said the cat tested positive for Feline Immunodificiency Virus and was not considered adoptable.

However, the Humane Society agreed Sunday to return the cat to photojournalist Isaac Salazar who originally rescued him last week.

Maran Bock first heard the cat's cries for help Sunday night when she was walking her dog near 103rd Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road in Tolleson.

"I couldn't see it," said Bock. "I just knew it was stuck because it wasn't coming when I was calling it."

The Arizona Humane Society reportedly told Bock that they did not have the ability to get the cat out of the 30-foot drain because it was too deep.

"(The cat) just kept crying," said Bock. "Every time I said 'kitty, kitty' it kept crying."

The City of Phoenix also apparently could not help, so Bock called ABC15.

Once on scene, Salazar came up with an idea to rescue the feline.

"I love animals," said Salazar. "I have a very soft spot in my heart for animals."

Isaac placed food into a basket borrowed from a local grocery store and lowered it into the drain.

"We're going to send you down a basket and we need you to get in the basket," Salazar could be heard saying to the trapped cat.

The cat hopped into the basket and was pulled up to safety.

Dr. Egar said the incident stresses the importance of keeping indoor cats indoors and getting them immunized.

"Cats do not need to go outside," said Dr. Egar. "Cats, when they're spayed or neutered make wonderful pets. Your cat won't miss being outdoors."