Runner Saves Cat from Being Drowned

Torrential rain didn't stop Matthew Guidarelli from jumping into a creek to rescue a sinking, rock-filled pet carrier
By Caitlin Giddings, Runner's World

Last month a video of a cat rescuing a boy from a dog attack made the rounds; this month a runner had the chance to repay the feline heroism in kind.

Matthew Guidarelli was fighting a torrential downpour on a run along his usual route in Albany County, New York, last Tuesday when he heard the cries of an animal coming from the Normans Kill creek below.

RELATED: Top 3 Outdoor First-Aid Tips for Pets

Guidarelli says he typically runs with headphones but decided to leave them at home because of the rain. (See the pros and cons of running with music, here.) His enhanced alertness paid off--from his position on the path's footbridge, he could see the head of a cat in a pet carrier sinking into the current. The runner sprang into action, scurrying down the side of the bridge and jumping into the water to drag the heavy crate to the bank.

He was surprised and dismayed at what was inside--not only did the carrier hold a large, terrified tabby, but a sizeable rock had been added to weigh the crate down. Unbelievably, someone had deliberately tried to drown the pet in the creek.

RELATED: Not all animal encounters while jogging are safe. Beware of these 13 Most Dangerous Animals for Runners.

Thanks to a runner's quick reflexes and heroism, though, the story has a happy ending. (You can get those cat-like reflexes with these 5 Exercises That'll Make You Faster.) As Care2 reports, after Guidarelli took the cat to animal rescue last week, "Chance," as he's now called, has a new lease on life and new adoptive parents, who describe him as having already stolen their hearts.
Guidarelli says he'll continue to be as alert as ever on his daily runs. But that's not all he hopes people take away from his unexpected rescue mission.

RELATED: Start reaping the benefits of combining your love for animals with working out--follow this guide to Make Your Dog Your Running Partner.

"For anyone out there who has an unwanted animal, there's always a better way than to do something violent and torturous like that," he told Runner's World Newswire. "That's really the moral of the story."

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