Emilee Phillips
Staff Writer
The Kitten Who Lived
In the smoky aftermath of a morning house fire on Aug. 6, a small miracle emerged as the lone survivor of tragedy: a black 6-week-old kitten.
Tori and Justin McLeod, both volunteers with the Westmoore Fire Department, were on the way to an appointment when the call came across the scanner: a structure fire on Tarry Church Road, just two miles from their own home — and animals were inside.
They hit the gas.
“We didn’t have any gear because we didn’t go to the station first, we were waiting for the station to come to us,” said Tori McLeod.
They arrived to find the single-wide style house filled with acrid smoke. Justin threw open the front door to see if anything would run out, or if anyone was in reach. The home owner, already on her way to work, returned.
When she pulled up, she said there were six adult cats, 15 kittens and two dogs inside.
Firefighters from Westmoore, Robbins, Eagle Springs, Biscoe and Star fire departments all responded to the scene, as well as Moore County paramedics.
The fire was an easy knockdown. Smoke, however, is frequently the toxic force.
Firefighters brought out the animals over 30 minutes, one still body after another. Tori McLeod helped assess whether they were already dead due to smoke inhalation.
But the gloom suddenly bloomed hope as one of the firefighters walked out with a kitten in his glove, saying it was still alive.
The kitten fit within the entirety of the firefighter’s glove, Tori said.
“I tapped his head and he slowly had a reaction. I thought it was impossible but then (the firefighter) opened his glove and I saw his belly barely trying to breathe.”
This one might have a chance.
Tori, who had previous experience working in veterinary clinics, grabbed pet oxygen masks and heat pads. After 15 minutes or so, the male kitten started to get more alert, but Tori knew it needed immediate care. The owner didn’t have the means for veterinary care and surrendered the kitten to Tori.
From that point, Tori called Diana Hoberecht, director of Feline Friends of Moore County. Hoberecht’s response: “No questions. Let’s try.”
A series of social media posts quickly raised money to cover the kitten’s vet bills, leaving Tori to find a vet that could take him.
Pinehurst Animal Hospital, about 45 minutes away, was the closest vet with an oxygen tent. The kitten — Tori and Hoberecht initially named him “Kingsford” — was kept in the oxygen-rich container for 24 hours and monitored continuously. Kingsford weighed just 1.1lbs.
“They said they cheered when they saw him drink some water,” said Hoberecht.
After roughly 36 hours of care, Kingsford was released to Hoberecht, who has cared for him this last week. “I can’t believe how friendly he is, given his situation,” she said.
“Everything fell into place to save Kingsford,” said Tori McLeod.
As much as she might like to consider adopting him, “You know ironically, I’m allergic to cats,” she said.
The experience, she said, has reinforced the importance of fire departments having pet oxygen masks, knowing how to use them and knowing how to handle animals. Though she understands it can’t always be their main priority and that they are under immense pressure, “I want more departments to have the forethought to have a plan for pets.” Other items like leashes and collapsible carriers would also be ideal to have on hand.
“As a pet owner,” she said, “I’d hate to see my animal come out of a fire lifeless, only to come-to and then take off because it’s scared and it wasn’t properly contained.”
“If Tori hadn’t been the one to respond, knowing everything that she does, this kitten would not have made it,” said Hoberecht, “I mean getting a heating pad? That seems counterintuitive to get them warm after just being in a fire.”
Hoberecht says it was heartwarming to see people jump in to help save a little one-pound kitten, from the first responders to the online donors.
“People do care,” she said. “I wish people would make more effort for all the other lovely animals that need adopted.”
Kingsford, however, will never hit the adoption roll of Feline Friends of Moore County. Pinehurst Animal Hospital vet tech Christina Currall fell in love with him immediately and has already adopted him.
“He may have used up a few of his nine lives,” said Hoberecht, who said he was doing well following his vet appointment Thursday morning. His lungs sounded good, his eyes were clearing up and his voice was coming back.
But he’s Kingsford no more. Currall decided to rename him, something just as fitting, if not more so, for the scrappy kitten who lived. That name is Phoenix.
Contact Emilee Phillips at emilee@thepilot.com.
