Firefighters freed a cat that had been crying from an underground pipe in metro Detroit after turning to a piece of equipment better known for construction cleanup than animal rescues.
The resourceful solution showed again that getting capable first responders involved quickly can help animals in tricky situations.
Here's what to know
As CBS Detroit reported, Southfield firefighters used a shop vacuum's suction to bring the animal to a point where they could reach it safely.
The Southfield Fire Department (@SouthfieldFD) shared pictures and details in a Facebook post.
Lt. Kiah, Firefighter/Paramedic Ballew, and Acting Driver Engineer Siburt were sent out after a report of a cat in distress trapped in a pipe below ground. Once there, the firefighters improvised and safely drew the cat out using a shop vacuum.
Photos shared in the post showed the shop vacuum, the crew with the rescued cat, and the pipe it got stuck in.
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"Firefighters are often known for their ingenuity and ability to 'think outside the box' when on emergency calls and this crew is no different," the department wrote.
More background
CBS News Detroit noted that a shop vacuum is a heavy-duty cleaner typically used at work sites for wood chips, debris, or water, not for animal rescues.
"Good old Yankee Ingenuity," a commenter remarked, while another praised the "creative" move.
Rather than the familiar cat-in-a-tree scenario, this call involved a cat crying from a buried pipe.
"Oh, and we figured this also answers the age old question 'Do firefighters rescue cats?'" Southfield Fire quipped on Facebook. "The answer is YES… They're just not always up trees!"
What's being done?
The department said the cat was "doing fine" after they pulled it free. The situation showed again that the best move for passersby is to call for help when they see an animal in distress.
Doing so quickly can get first responders or wildlife rescuers on scene with the specialized equipment and resources to intervene. Sometimes, that means improvising with equipment not typically used for that purpose.
In this case, that meant transforming a shop vacuum from a cleaning device into a tool to free a trapped cat.
"Great work, guys, and what a purr-fect ending to the story!" Southfield Fire declared on Facebook.
Where can I learn more?
Southfield isn't the only place where rescuers have had to get creative for cats stuck in drains, pipes, walls, and trees.
• In Iowa, rescuers mounted an hours-long rescue effort for a kitten six feet down.
• In southern Spain, firefighters chiseled around its face to free a crying cat.
• In Beaufort, firefighters brought Johnny Cash down after the cat got stuck in a tree.
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