WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — A kitten was rescued and then adopted in Luzerne County on Wednesday.
The Wilkes-Barre city firefighters on East Ross Street said a vehicle pulled up to the fire department's headquarters, hoping to get help for an unexpected visitor in the engine compartment.
When firefighters went to investigate, this kitten was heard meowing from inside.
"So around 7 a.m., it was around shift change. A guy came up to the door, and you know, he said he had a cat stuck in his car, so immediately we all went outside. We probably spent 40 minutes trying to get the cat out. It just kept going back and forth between the engine compartment," said Candice Hartman, Wilkes-Barre Firefighter.
When the cat finally made its way out of the engine compartment, it went to the front of the headquarters, running into the fire station.
"So we shut all the doors quick. It ended up going underneath our tiller. It ran right in, and it was right up in here and we were able to grab it out from there," added Hartman.
That's when firefighter Tom Heffers was able to grab the kitten.
"So, it was in a lot of distress, but thankfully, the cat had no injuries, no burns or anything," said Hartman.
After the kitten spent some time in the department's headquarters, firefighter Hartman decided she was taking her home.
"I had to. I mean, we got it out, and I felt like it was fate. I've been looking for another cat for a little while now, going back and forth, and what better place to get one than rescuing one myself."
Firefighter Heffers said cats sometimes use engines for warmth in colder temperatures.
"Get in the habit of knocking on your car, banging it, you know, making sure that there's nothing around it," added Heffers.
As some might say, the cat distribution system strikes again.