Florida highway kitten rescue ends with Dash finding a home
A 5-week-old kitten ran from rescuers near traffic on I-275, then was adopted by the deputy who caught him.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
A Florida highway kitten rescue on Interstate 275 has given a 5-week-old cat named Dash a new home after a deputy and a Florida Highway Patrol trooper got the youngster away from traffic in Hillsborough County.
The rescue happened Sept. 8 on southbound I-275, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Its video of the call shows the small black kitten stranded beside the roadway, then scrambling away as help approached.
A good Samaritan had called for assistance before deputies arrived, the sheriff’s office said. The agency identified the caller as Donna Watson, who watched the rescue and became emotional once the kitten was lifted to safety.
Where can I watch the Florida highway kitten rescue?
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office posted video from the incident on social media, including footage that shows the rescue effort. WFLA reported that the encounter was recorded on a deputy’s body-worn camera.
Viewers can see the kitten run along the roadside while vehicles pass. The deputy follows closely and calls for the kitten not to run into traffic, according to WFLA’s account of the video.
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper arrived to assist, but Dash got away again before the deputy ultimately caught him as he ran toward her feet, WFLA reported. The sheriff’s office described the chase with a cat-themed “foot pur-suit” line in its post.
A roadside scare and a permanent home
The chase took place along a busy interstate, where the kitten had been huddled near a concrete wall, according to UPI’s report on the sheriff’s office account. The agency said the cat was safely removed from the scene with the trooper’s help.
Dash’s story did not end at the roadside. The sheriff’s office said the deputy’s family adopted the kitten after the rescue. WFLA likewise reported that the deputy who caught Dash gave him a home.
The agency’s post said Dash was settled in with a full belly and a happy tail. No further details about the kitten’s health or the identity of the deputy were released in the reports.
The footage offers a short look at a tense few moments beside I-275, followed by an outcome that puts Dash well away from highway traffic.
This story draws on original reporting from UPI.