Willy the kitten finds a home following rescue
From all alone to a home of his own. Willy, the 10-week-old kitten rescued from an underground storm pipe, has been adopted — and by a familiar face.
Will Parks, a contractor who helped save Willy, adopted the cat Wednesday.
“It was because of my three kids. My youngest, Lindsey, wanted a cat in the worst way,” said Mr. Parks, owner of Coastline Cesspool & Drain Service in Cutchogue. “Then Willy came along and I think it seems it was just meant to be.”
Mr. Parks said Willy, now 14 weeks old, will be the first pet the family has had in almost eight years, having previously had a family dog.
“I’ve noticed there’s been a lot of shopping going on, getting toys and things ready for him,” Mr. Parks laughed.
Willy was discovered trapped in a 20-foot-long stormwater pipe buried about three feet underground after falling into a hole near the back of the Southold 7-Eleven on Sept. 29.
Nearly 16 hours later, volunteers from the North Fork Animal Welfare League, Mr. Parks’ company and North Fork Sanitation successfully rescued the buff-red kitten.
Mr. Parks said he’d gotten the call from NFAWL director Gillian Wood Pultz while he was on another job installing a septic system.
“I kind of put that to bed real quick, got my guys together and we convened over there,” he said. “He’s a living thing. I don’t think anyone would let a living thing go like that. I said, ‘If we’ve got the technology to do it, let’s give it a try.’ He was basically a little clog in the pipe and we had to get him out.”
Gabby Glantzman of NFAWL said Willy was neutered Tuesday and is doing very well.
“He is just really sweet. It took him about a week to warm up and now he purrs every time you touch him,” she said. “We knew within a day or so he was doing well. He was also eating well.”
Mr. Parks, his wife, Terri, and daughters Lindsey, Sarah and Rachel picked Willy up Wednesday afternoon.
