Posted: April 30, 2008 2 a.m. EDT
Linda Grudi of Harrisburg, Pa., searched her yard, home and neighborhood last week for Bud, the family cat, but found no sign of him. After four days of searching, she was sure the cat was gone for good. Then, while gardening last Saturday, she and her husband heard faint meowing and began searching again, the WHTM Channel 27 News (Pennsylvania) reports.
Grudi enlisted the help of neighbors and the fire department, and they narrowed their search to an area near a drain pipe in Grudi’s yard. A plumber and a contractor were called in, then Dave Jones of Roto-Rooter was summoned. Jones and his team slid a fiber-optic camera about 100 feet into the 6-inch drain pipe. The image on the screen was Bud the cat, still alive after four days without food or water.
“To see his eyes blink through this camera in the pipe, knowing he was in there and safe … it encouraged everyone to work a little harder to get him out,” Grudi said.
Those on hand started digging and sawing to open the drain pipe, and a short time later, the cat was finally free of the pipe.
Bud lost a few pounds during his ordeal but is otherwise fine, Grudi said. “After four and a half days without food and water, I’m just so grateful. I mean, it was a miracle. A miracle recovery,” she said. “I just want to say thanks to everyone who helped out.”