When seasoned rescuer John Debacker received an urgent call about a mysterious animal stranded in the middle of New York City’s busy Grand Central Parkway, he knew there was no time to waste.
He quickly reached out to his friend Karenlynn Stracher for assistance, and together, the pair braved four lanes of speeding traffic to help the helpless creature.
A High-Stakes Rescue
When John and Karenlynn arrived, they spotted the distressed animal perched on the center median.
As they drew closer, they realized it wasn’t just any animal—it was a frightened cat. Knowing how fast and unpredictable cats can be, they approached her with extreme caution.
With cars flying past them on both sides, John covered his hands with a blanket and attempted to scoop the cat up. But startled, she bolted and darted into the lanes of traffic.
The heart-stopping moment was caught on video:
The rescuers watched in horror as the cat weaved through moving vehicles. She miraculously crossed two lanes but froze in the third.
“I immediately hopped the barrier and forced traffic to a stop where the cat was seen laying in the number 3 lane, still alive, but stunned,” John wrote in a Facebook post.
Without hesitation, John rushed to the frightened cat, wrapping her securely in a blanket. Meanwhile, Karenlynn hurried to grab a trap from their car.
“I grabbed her with all of my might and I wrapped her in a blanket…” John shared.
With the cat in his arms, John crossed the highway once more, finally bringing her to safety and securing her in the cage.
Amazingly, despite the terrifying ordeal, the cat had no injuries—only severe stress. John decided to name her Miracle.
A Happy Ending
John wasted no time taking Miracle to the emergency vet for a full examination. To his great relief, the vet confirmed she was completely unharmed and in good health.
Next, John had her scanned for a microchip, and to his surprise, the results revealed something incredible—she had an owner.
“It came up to over a mile away from where she was found, so we were able to reunite her with her parents,” John told The Dodo.
It turned out Miracle already had a name—Flamingo. Once cleared from the vet, she was joyfully reunited with her family.
No one knows how Flamingo ended up on one of New York’s busiest highways, but John was overjoyed to see her safely back home where she belonged.
Her grateful family couldn’t thank John enough for his bravery and compassion. For John, though, what stood out most was the incredible support he witnessed during the rescue.
“Seeing all lanes of traffic come to a halt for an animal was an amazing sight to see, seeing so many people care,” John concluded.