Big or small, the Newton Fire Department saves them all.
And that includes a young raccoon spotted in the Massachusetts town Thursday morning trapped in a storm drain. The poor little critter somehow got its head wedged into the grate and clearly couldn’t get out.
John Moore was on his bike riding by when he spotted the helpless animal.
“Quite the morning adventure saving this little lady,” he posted on Instagram. “Happened to ride by what I originally thought was roadkill, but when it didn’t quite right, discovered this juvenile raccoon had landed herself in a bit of a predicament.”
Front line responders, animal control and a veterinarian went to work.
They used Dawn dish soap — yes, the one from the oil-covered waterfowl commercials — to loosen the animal’s head.
It was no easy feat.
Eventually, they popped out the sewer grate to get some added leverage.
We were able to rescue a juvenile raccoon today with help from Waltham’s Animal Control. He had been stuck for a while but we are happy to report he is free!!! #newtonfire #nfd #newtonma pic.twitter.com/q7CYEQCCWZ
— Newton Fire (@NewtonFireDept) August 1, 2019
It took two hours to set her free.
Moore documented the whole thing.
Because he also loves trash pandas.
@Newtonrescue1 @NewtonFireDept helping save this little juvenile trash panda I noticed stuck on my morning commute. Great to see so many animal lovers in the group pic.twitter.com/Fps40S40cG
— John Moore (@j3moore) August 1, 2019
The fire department is taking the praise in stride.
“Always willing to help our 4 legged friends!,” the department wrote. “It was quite the operation.”
Always willing to help our 4 legged friends! It was quite the operation. https://t.co/wgFXzrhnWQ
— Newton Fire (@NewtonFireDept) August 1, 2019
And it’s taking the rescue in stride.
We rescue citizens both big and small!!!
— Newton Fire (@NewtonFireDept) August 1, 2019
Yes… We LOVE all the Animals!! https://t.co/a6meFDXbWJ
— Newton Rescue 1 (@Newtonrescue1) August 1, 2019
