Ventnor firefighters spent several days trying to release a kitty trapped inside a party wall between two houses for five days.
According to Fire Official Lt. Joe Iannuzzelli, the Ventnor City Fire Department went to 833 N. Dorset Ave., in Waterview Condominium complex Thursday at 9:45 p.m. after the property owner called to say they believed their cat was trapped somewhere inaccessible. The owners reported that their cat had disappeared for several days before they heard meowing coming from somewhere close by.
Yocelyn Lopez, 20, who lives with her mom and four siblings, said the family thought their 4-month-old kitty just got out through the back door.
“We were looking around for a few days, going through the neighborhood and under porches,” she said. “We tried to call Animal Control, but they were not available.”
Lopez said she could hear the cat crying through the heating vents in her room.
“I couldn’t sleep at night and all I could do was cry. My mom said I was just hallucinating because I missed her so much,” she said.
Firefighters Matt Williams and Matt DiCerbo arrived on scene to assess the situation and located the area where they thought the cat was trapped. Lt. Eric Koob and Firefighter Joe Russo arrived on Engine 11 to assist.
The property owners gave the Fire Department permission to open a few holes in the wall to search for the kitty. They even had to punch through the cinder block wall separating the two units. They left some food out and assumed the cat, identified as “Buttercup,” would find her way out on her own.
At 9:30 a.m. Friday morning, the homeowners called the fire department again to say that Buttercup was still trapped in the wall. This time, Engine 11 arrived with Lt. Jeff Brinberg and Firefighter Shaun Magill, along with Iannuzzelli and Building Department employee Pam Learn. Fire Chief Michael Cahill also was on scene to assist.
“The holes from the night before were made larger, and we could hear Buttercup meowing loudly, which was a good sign,” Iannuzzelli said. “At this point, she had been in the wall for five days.”
Food was left out again, but Buttercup would not come out.
The family again called the firehouse at 4:30 p.m. Friday afternoon to say they saw Buttercup reaching for the food with her paw, but she could not fit through the hole.
“We all went back to the house, the hole was made much larger,” Iannuzzelli said.
Finally, Lopez saw Buttercup and was able to pull her gently from the hole in the wall.
“We have absolutely no idea how she got inside the wall,” Lopez said. “No clue. We are just so happy we were able to get her back.”
Yocelyn Lopez with ButtercupNow that they have located Buttercup, the family is looking for a drywall contractor.
