February 17, 2008
Georgia, The Runaway Subway Cat, Rescued!
Georgia's been on a lot of people's minds since news of her disappearance became public in January, but she is now safe at home. The black cat escaped owner Ashley Phillips' pet carrier while they were waiting on the platform at 59th St. for a 6 train, on their way home from the Humane Society where Georgia had just been spayed. She survived 25 days in the subway tunnels before being found and rescued.
The lucky feline's discovery and recovery was not a chance happening. The Daily News reports that Georgia's rescue was in no small part due to the efforts of track workers who went well beyond their normal work duties to find her. After a Con Ed worker reported seeing a cat in the area where she initially went missing, MTA track flagman Mark Dalesssio and track inspector Efrain LaPorte were determined to find Georgia.
"As I was walking down the track, I was making cat sounds, meowing," Dalessio told the Daily News. "I heard a 'meow' back and I thought it was LaPorte. I thought, 'Wow, LaPorte is inspired.' "The two track workers, who are all too aware of the dangers of the subway system, called the police and two transit cops effected the rescue. Georgia survived slightly the worse for wear--a little thinner and with a scratch on her nose. Phillips is thrilled to have her cat back and is going to have her microchipped for future identification if Georgia is ever again seized with wanderlust."Then I heard it again," Dalessio said. "I looked down, and said, 'It's Georgia!' "
The frightened feline was taking shelter in a foot-deep metal drain between two tracks when she was spotted.
As Dalessio extended his hand toward the cat, sweet Georgia gave him a lick.
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astonishing recovery. seems like they do have 9 lives. if only the cat could blog about the experience.
HOORAY!!! This is terrific news. I know I, like many others, give the MTA a hard time, but it's really terrific they helped out this way. (Of course, the Daily News tracking the story helped a little, I'm sure.)
Not sure I'd want to be licked by a cat who's been living in the subway sewers for 25 days, but my congratulations to Georgia, who I'm sure has learned her lesson.
curiosity kills the kitten
Welcome back home Georgia! Now stay kitty. Kudos to the MTA workers for going above and beyond to find this lucky feline.
I'm not surprised to see a cat able to survive down there. She had a lot of mice and rats available to her.
yay! i was wondering about her.
A microchip doesn't help that much. There are so many dangers in the city that don't care about a chip. Cars, poisons, cat haters, dogs. Don't let your cat outside and make sure the carrier is securely closed anytime you take her out.
#8 ditto
Let's hope that Ashley Phillips has learned her lesson! (and learned how to spell and write)
Wonderful news. I'm so happy for the owner and the kitty. :)
What a cute kitten. I'm so glad that she was rescued.
This news makes my night! Yay, Georgia!!
And now don't open the freaking door of the carrier!
Most subway track people call
the rats they work with "rabbits" the rats and humans stay some distance from each other.
Nice too have the cat at home again.