He was so small
By Maeve Dunigan
Published on July 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM
This past week, residents of Garden City Park on Long Island, New York, were confused when they began hearing “cries” echoing near their homes.
The Good Samaritans followed the noise until it led them to a woodpile in one resident’s yard. The logs were covered with a tattered plastic tarp, which draped toward the ground. Poking out from this pile, barely noticeable among the dirt and leaves, was a little black kitten who needed help.
The kitten was tangled in the shredded tarp, but residents were wary of moving him, as they didn’t want to injure him further. They called many local rescuers, but none were available. Finally, almost 24 hours after they found the kitten, they got in touch with rescuer John Debacker, who didn’t hesitate to offer help.
“Once I was made aware, I came right away to free him,” Debacker told The Dodo.
Debacker used a towel to grab the kitten. By this point, flies were beginning to swarm near the cat’s head, threatening the baby with dangerous diseases.
Using a pair of scissors, Debacker gently began cutting the plastic away from the kitten’s body. Within moments, the cat was free.
You can watch the rescue unfold in a video here:
Debacker took the kitten to the Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center of Westbury, where experts began treating his injuries. Today, the kitten remains at the vet, where he’s in stable condition, doing much better.
Free from the tarp and into loving, expert hands, this kitten is on his way to much brighter days ahead.