Firefighters from the Waukegan Fire Department spent nearly two hours fishing a kitten out of an open drain pipe. Photo courtesy of the Waukegan Police Department

WAUKEGAN, Ill., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Emergency responders in Illinois spent nearly two hours fishing a tiny kitten out of a drain pipe and dubbed the rescued feline "Piper."

The Waukegan Police Department said Animal Control officers were summoned to a home Monday on a report of a cat trapped in a drain pipe and the officers determined the kitten had fallen into an open drain pipe in the front yard of the residence.


The Animal Control officers called the Waukegan Fire Department for assistance and firefighters worked for nearly two hours to lasso the kitten and lift it to safety.

The kitten was taken to Animal Control where it was found to be in good health, but too young to determine its sex.

Animal Control said workers dubbed the kitten "Piper" in honor of its ordeal.