Fort Wayne Officers Save Kitten from Storm Drain in Team Effort That Melted Hearts

It could’ve ended badly. But instead, it turned into one of those rare moments that remind everyone—kindness is still alive, even in the middle of traffic on West Coliseum Boulevard.

A tiny kitten, scared and alone, stuck in a storm drain. And two departments who decided that no meow was going to go unheard.

The Great Escape That Sparked It All

It started Monday night. Officers from the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) and Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control (FWACC) were responding to reports of a litter of kittens in the 3300 block of West Coliseum.

They’d found the group—but one of the kittens made a break for it.

Ran right into a storm drain.

In one sentence: Just like that, it was gone.

What happened next wasn’t instant. The officers couldn’t reach the kitten that night, so they left. But the story didn’t end there.

A Call for Help, and a Return with Purpose

Tuesday morning, someone heard faint meowing.

That was enough.

“They didn’t even hesitate,” said a nearby resident who watched the rescue. “They came right back.”

This time, officers were ready. An FWACC officer climbed down and carefully coaxed the kitten closer. Meanwhile, FWPD officers helped lift the heavy grate—no small task.

One person reached. Another steadied. Someone else made cat noises.

And then—success.

How They Got It Done

Here’s what went right in that storm drain rescue:

Quick response from both departments
Prior knowledge of kitten’s location from Monday’s search
Community member report of meowing sounds
Careful coordination between FWPD lifting the grate and FWACC grabbing the kitten

It sounds simple. But anyone who’s tried to catch a panicked animal knows—it’s anything but.

“Those little guys are fast,” one FWPD officer joked after the rescue. “And sneaky.”

The kitten was scared but otherwise okay.

Not Just a Rescue, But a Reminder

It’s easy to scroll past a headline about a kitten. But this one touched a nerve.

People stopped. Watched. Cheered.

“I had tears in my eyes,” said one woman who lives nearby. “It’s just a kitten, but… it matters.”

In an era where police departments often face criticism, moments like these remind folks that public service isn’t always what you see in headlines. Sometimes, it’s lifting a storm drain grate for a kitten.

“This is what we’re here for too,” said an FWPD spokesperson. “Safety includes every creature in this city.”

A one-sentence paragraph: It wasn’t just a cat—it was a show of care.

From Drain to Shelter to Hopefully, a Home

The rescued kitten is now in FWACC’s care. Healthy. Hydrated. Maybe a little dramatic—he’s been meowing non-stop, staff say.

And yes, he’ll be available for adoption once cleared by vets.

Here’s a quick look at the rescue and next steps:

Event	Timeframe	Status
Kitten runs into drain	Monday night	Escaped capture
Report of meowing	Tuesday morning	Call received
Rescue completed	Tuesday afternoon	Kitten safe
Health check and recovery	This week	In progress
Adoption availability	Next few weeks	To be announced

The other kittens from the original group were already picked up and are also under FWACC supervision.

Internet’s New Favorite Cat?

Of course, once the rescue photos surfaced on local pages, things got loud. Hundreds of shares, dozens of name suggestions, and lots of “I’ll adopt him!” comments poured in.

Suggested names?