The PATCO station just across the river in Philadelphia, the one that connects to 8th & Market and the Gallery, has no doubt seen its share of wildlife. If people watching weren't enough entertainment, the occasional mouse skittering across the tracks, or a lost bird or two provide alternatives.
This winter a new species has become more visible. One or more gray tabby cats can sometimes be seen wandering around the tracks. Once the cat jumped up on the station platform but jumped back down again quickly. Perhaps the trains seem less dangerous than the passengers. There are enough places to hide when the trains come through and the vibration and sounds provide enough notice that the cat or cats can avoid harm. The cat (or cats) I've seen appear healthy and fit; chasing mice and birds is exercise, catching them is dinner.
The only concern is that parents of toddler have to keep closer watch on their children as they sometimes rush to the edge of the platform for a better view of the cat.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
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3 comments:
I have witnessed one cat and he/she is so sweet and flirtatious...a very young cat, just out of kittenhood. I have contacted PATCO, the PSCPCA, PACCA, and various local cat rescues over two weeks ago because this sweet cat is absolutely adoptable and its current situation is dangerous...that is no life for a cat, down there in the dark dodging trains and eating garbage!
Nothing came of my telephone calls and e-mails, so a friend and I took things into our own hands and attempted a rescue. We were threatened with arrest! We were told that "the authorities were aware of the situation" and that we could not bring a humane trap down to the platform to rescue the cat. The people at PATCO are negligent, uncaring, and completely irresponsible. I agree with you that it is not only dangerous for the cat, but dangerous for people as well...numerous times I have heard people say they were ready to jump down on those tracks (with one electrified rail) to save that sweet kitty!
So, now I just see the cat every day, feed him/her what I can, and hope that somebody takes some responsibility for this and does right by this poor creature.
The cat that was trapped for MONTHS at the 8th & Market PATCO station was rescued last night at 11:00 p.m. by the Philadelphia Cat Care Coalition. Greene St. Rescue has the cat at a safe foster home. They have named the cat “Choo Choo” and describe him as a “healthy, just dirty, one-year-old gray tabby.” They say “he is NOT feral, just lost some of his social skills with people that will come back easily with a little TLC.”
So many people demonstrated they cared for this little kitty by making telephone calls, writing e-mails, feeding the cat during the past two months, and just keeping the situation in their thoughts and prayers. The successful rescuers are the heroes here, but I also think that the telephone call that this wonderful woman, Genevieve, an Editor at NBC-10 News, made to PATCO is what really got the grease on the wheels…this is the power of the press, since PATCO did not want bad publicity and immediately gave permission for the rescuers to go down on the tracks after stonewalling for so many weeks!
Good news, people! Thank you for caring about Choo Choo!
Eloy,
Thanks for the updates. I posted a new blog entry updating the situation.
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