Cat Hero Rescues Kittens and Cats from Sewers and Walls in New York City
John Debacker, Long Island’s Cat Hero, is a unique, gentle guy who rescues animals from sewers, abandoned structures, and just about anyplace. He recently leaped into a pond to help a bird caught in a fishing line and saved an opossum dangling from a power wire. Then he rescued a squirrel that was stuck in a gutter. In the meanwhile, he’s catching and rescuing a slew of wild cats and kittens, regardless of how tough or nasty the work is.
Debacker recently collected 16 wild cats at once while working with the group Long Island Cat/Kitten Solution. For the group’s celebrity, who thinks nothing of catching over 45 cats in a month, it’s all in a day’s work.
As part of the trap, neuter, and return initiative, each cat would be cared for and sterilized after being captured. More than 10,000 cats and kittens have been spayed or neutered since 2008.
As a result, the number of feral cats will not continue to rise, and kittens will no longer need to be rescued on a regular basis. Despite this, hundreds of cats are in need of care and homes at any given moment.
The costs of caring for so many cats are exorbitant, and the organization relies solely on contributions. “Long Island’s own Cat Hero,” Debacker, has taken up many of the expenditures himself, according to the rescue’s Facebook page.
Debacker travels wherever kittens are in need of rescue, including saving them from the sewers. He demonstrates a long-term interest in where the cats end up in life from the minute they are rescued.
He just followed up on the story of a cat he rescued from a Bellmore sewer three years ago.
Debacker was contacted by volunteers from the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter about a terrified kitten. He was able to save the cat because of his vast knowledge and expertise. Then, years later, he gave everyone an update on her location.
“I was able to swiftly and safely capture the kitten, who was later adopted by a local household, and she is now [completely] grown and having a happy and healthy life.”
“I was able to swiftly and safely capture the kitten, who was later adopted by a local household, and she is now [completely] grown and having a happy and healthy life.”
Debacker also caught a family of kittens and their mother in another occasion. As a consequence, the family as a whole was adopted.
“Meet Josie, Joie, and Joy!” says the narrator.
Adoptions are wonderful; double adoptions are even better; nevertheless, a triple adoption is incredible!
That’s what happened to one Jericho family when the foster mother couldn’t bear to part with them and ended up adopting the whole family.
Skinny, a cat, became caught in the walls of a house for seven days in August. Debacker arrived to assist, dropping food and setting up cameras to keep an eye on Skinny.
Skinny meowed around 3 a.m., and the homeowner realized he had been beneath the floor the entire time. Skinny couldn’t get out until Debacker and the homeowner got to work, which was too late.
“With the additional holes this morning,” Debacker said, “[Skinny] found a way out and was surrounded in the basement until I was able to properly put him in a carrier.”
The cat didn’t have to be that slender to get out, judging by the holes in the photographs.
The cat then bit his rescuer as a reward. Thankfully, the Cat Hero arrived completely prepared.
“He bit me hard, but I told the cat that I was wearing kevlar, so there was no point.” With that stated, he strolled straight into the carrier and quietly surrendered.
Skinny had a good time, but hopefully he won’t get into any more problems now..”
After great danger and effort, the Cat Hero completed another successful mission.
A follower responded, saying:
“You have the most touching stories to share, John.” Early in the morning and late at night, you’re a savior – incredible! A golden heart. Thank you very much.”
This guy truly has a golden heart, rescue kitties wherever and whenever they want assistance. We believe he and his crew are fairly impressive after viewing a few of his continuous attempts to help animals.
Long Island and its Cat Hero are now working to make the area’s sewers safer for animals. You can assist by signing Debacker’s Change.org petition to install nets and screens in all sewage drains.
“Animals becoming stuck in sewers and not being able to get out have become much too prevalent – far too often!” says the petition. “Not every animal that falls in will survive, and many have drowned,” says the author. Adding screens or netting to any sewage drains that are open, allowing only water to pass through, is such a simple remedy.”
So far, the petition has received 1,000 signatures, which it wants to surpass. So, if you want to assist Long Island’s Cat Hero save additional cats from the sewers, please sign. Follow Long Island Cat/Kittens Solutions, Inc. for more heroic stories from Long Island’s Cat Hero.