A Participant Writes: Albany Drainpipe Cat Rescuer Praises Police, Tells Us More

Animal rescuer Gigi Giorgio is shown here holding the little kitten she helped rescue last Sunday from an Albany NY drainpipe that went below the ground and under a deck.

Ms. Giorgio is the Schnectady certified wildlife rehabilitator who was able to make things happen when she arrived on the scene where Bob Suntheimer was trying to get help on a weekend to rescue a kitten trapped below an abandoned property on his block.

The kitten had been missing for three days and was weak and dehydrated, scared and shaken when rescued. Ms. Giorgio feels that making the rescue wait, as some wanted, would have had dire consequences for the little creature.

The kitten is feeding on Pedialyte now, while in the care of Ms. Giorgio, and is expected to be made available for adoption soon.

We have heard from Ms. Giorgio twice since we covered the story last Monday and, as she has given us her take on the incident, she has both times singled out the police officers at the scene for praise, saying of them that two are huge animal lovers and that  “These cops got down and went at it for more than two, probably three hours with picks. They got on their knees and got dirty pulling out chunks of old foundation, dirt and concrete with their hands.” and  “Albany PD Officers Cummerford, Markham, DeLuca and Kittleman stepped in and facilitated the rescue operation. Please thank the Albany Police Dept.”

In response to our Albany NY Man Oversees 5 Hour Rescue of Kitten Trapped in Drainpipe story, Gigi wrote the following, which clears up some of the hazy details about those who were called and responded to the scene, and how Ms. Giorgio and Mr. Suntheimer were finally able to get assistance in the difficult task of rescuing the the kitten from where it was trapped underground in a pvc drainpipe.

Ms. Giorgio writes to us, in response to our story from Monday: :

“It appears it was the Albany City ACO who determined on Saturday that no one could help out until Monday. What kills me is that he also works as a “Humane Law Enforcement” officer with the Schenectady County SPCA.

I arrived on the scene and was able to persuade the Albany Police to take action. The Albany Police called in public service workers to help, along with ACO Jason Hogan, who is also an HLE with the SSS County SPCA.

One would think that an SPCA officer would know better and delaying action on rescuing this kitten is an act of animal cruelty in and of itself. Please contact the Albany Mayors office at [email protected] and request that ACO Jason Hogan’s conduct in this matter be looked into and also that charges of animal cruelty be looked into.

During the situation, ACO Jason Hogan stood there skaking his head and rolling his eyes in disgust at the rescue operation. ACO Jason Hogan also attempted to initiate an argument with me over the disposition of the kitten in which he stated “he needed to take control of the kitten (ACO’s by law are relegated to dogs only and have NO legal authority over any other animal) and get it to a vet. Where was ACO Jason Hogan’s concern on Saturday when he knew the kitten was down there suffering?

Fortunately, Albany PD Officers Cummerford, Markham, DeLuca and Kittleman stepped in and facilitated the rescue operation. Please thank the Albany Police Dept.”

__________

One thing we are able to take away from Ms Giorgio’s account is that despite conflicts on the scene concerned and determined people made things happen to save a tiny kitten’s life and, along with Mr. Suntheimer and Ms. Giorgio,  the  four police officers singled out and named above are heroes who deserve  thanks.

Karen Harrison Binette

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