OC Firefighters Foster Adorable Kittens Rescued From Car Engine

LOS ALAMITOS, CA — It started at a Westminster car wash. Kitten cries underneath a car hood were heard by a worker at the Brookhurst Car Wash who approached OCFA firefighters. The crew was able to quickly get underneath the Audi and free one of the two kittens – but they determined the truck company was needed with the specialized extraction equipment. Once the truck company responded, the second kitten was freed.

A crowd of approximately 12-18 people had gathered and stayed until the end of the 40-minute rescue. Everyone was very happy the firefighters were able to successfully rescue the kittens who were refused by the owner of the Audi where they were found.

“No call is too small,” wrote OCFA firefighters after both kittens were saved. A subsequent visit to the veterinarian revealed they were a brother and sister, approximately three weeks old, not yet weaned and weighed approximately 10-ounces each.

The firefighters took the kittens back to the fire station to make sure their patients were properly cared for and that their immediate needs and follow-up care were not left to chance.

Cared for primarily by Taylor Rhylec, a girlfriend to one of the Westminster Firefighters, the kittens have been receiving care by veterinarian, Dr. Cherry, DVM, and the staff at the Animal Medical Center & Spay Neuter Clinic, 27230 La Paz, Ste. A, Mission Viejo, 949-768-3300.

The kittens are staying in Trabuco Canyon with Rhylec, and have been named Hazard and Brookhurst.

"Both kittens are very social. They don’t show any fear of people. They enjoy belly rubs. They sleep together, usually on top of one another," Rhylec said.

This experience has been a complete surprise. Personally, I have never had cats or kittens, I grew up with dogs. I had no idea what fostering kittens entailed. I am a surrogate mother to Brookhurst and Hazard.

Every 2 to 3 hours, I bottle feed them with a milk replacement formula. Following the feeding, I stimulate them with a warm moistened cotton pad (simulating their mother’s tongue) hoping they will urinate, or well you know.

With feeding and stimulation complete, I try to cuddle each of them and introduce them to new toys and activities. The resources on the internet, especially, kittenlady.org, have been great for information. I have seen them go from young kittens, less than two weeks old, simply sleeping and eating, to today, where they are walking, and learning to run, jump and pounce. It’s incredible to see their natural instincts take over.

The experience has been exhausting, and the responsibilities are all mine, but I have enjoyed the challenge. I’m glad his crew went beyond their regular duties and took in the kittens. They’re a great group of guys, and the fostering of Brookhurst and Hazard is only one of many examples of that.

“This shows the commitment our OCFA firefighters make when they do the right things for the right reasons,” OCFA Captain Steve Concialdi said. “This Westminster captain, his crew and Taylor have gone above and beyond the call of duty as they continue to care for these small and very needy kittens.”

This is a glimpse of the emotional side of the fire service and how our firefighters get touched and moved by “saving a life.”

"Like I said before, anytime a firefighter can save a life, no matter if it is a human or an animal, it brings all of us a tremendous amount of joy,” Concialdi said. “That is why we join the fire service – to help others in need, animals included.”

Read the full story on Mission Viejo Patch.

Photos, courtesy OCFA