On the highway, most of us tune out the background noise, the dust, the scattered debris, the random flickers of color that whip past and disappear. But animal rescuers see those little details differently, because sometimes what looks like nothing is actually a life hanging in the balance.
That’s exactly what played out on a busy Arizona highway, where a small white speck on the shoulder blended into the scenery for countless drivers who sped right by without noticing a thing. Then one observant driver finally caught it, slowed down, and realized it wasn’t just roadside clutter.
To their shock, that pale spot was a tiny kitten who desperately needed help.
A Life Hanging In The Balance
The driver was taken aback when they recognized the small kitten, who could easily have been mistaken for a discarded object on the road.
They wasted no time in contacting the Arizona Department of Transportation(ADOT) for assistance.
Workers Travis Benthin and Derik Woitaszewski were quickly dispatched to assess the situation. Given the location and conditions, the rescuers feared the worst, assuming that the kitten may have been injured by passing cars.
Luckily, that wasn’t the case. Although the kitten was clearly frightened and perched on the ledge of a transition map 100 feet above the ground, it seemed to be unharmed.
She was alive, but still in a dangerous position. Benthin carefully approached her using an unconventional method to avoid startling her.
The Careful Approach
“I wanted to not spook it,” said Benthin. “So I turned my raincoat inside out because it’s not as bright or distracting and put it on along with my gloves,” as shared by the Arizona Department of Transportation on Facebook.
The rescuers had no idea how the kitten had ended up in such a precarious spot. However, it was clear that one wrong move or any loud sound could lead to a fatal fall.
Benthin finally managed to wrap his arm around her. In that instant, the rescue became a success.
“It hissed at me, and I reached out with my left hand and put my right arm around it,” Benthin said. “It started to jump off the ledge, and I was able to grab it.”
A Happy Ending
With the kitten now safe in their hands, the rescue team carefully moved her away from the ledge and took her to Heidi’s Village for further care.
“We are so grateful to the ADOT heroes for getting her to safety with us. In honor of her rescue story, we have named her ADOT! Stay tuned for updates,” shared Heidi’s Village on their Facebook.
ADOT, the kitten, is now in a warm and safe environment with soft beds, blankets, and plenty of love from her new caregivers.
She’s thriving in her new surroundings after her terrifying experience on the highway.
In time, ADOT will be ready to meet her forever family, and her incredib