Sickly Kitten Rescued From Drain Pipe In Mission Viejo

MISSION VIEJO, CA — A kitten is getting a new lease on life after she was rescued from a drain pipe in Mission Viejo by Mission Viejo Animal Services officers.

Officers learned of the kitten — named Poppy — on Oct. 6 after receiving a report of a sick kitten at the entrance of Target off Alicia Parkway and the Interstate 5 Freeway.

When MVAS Officer Nick Ross arrived to the scene, he saw the kitten panting in the bushes near the entrance of the building.

"It was around 90 degrees when I got there, and the heat reflecting off of the building felt like it was easily above 100 degrees," Ross told Patch.

According to Ross, the employees at the Target had been trying to lure the kitten out of its hiding spot for weeks without any success.

When Ross approached Poppy, the kitten had just enough energy to run into a drainage pipe on the side of the building.

Thanks to the quick response from MVAS, Officer Ross was able to pull Poppy out of the drain and found that she was so weak she was barely able to lift her head.

The kitten was taken to the Mission Hills Pet Care Center and is now taking her first steps toward recovery.

Poppy will be at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center soon and is expected to be available for adoption within a week or so. For more information, contact 949-470-3045.