2022 HOMETOWN HEROES MAGAZINE

Page 34 2022 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS May / June 2022 Cummings said the little thing did not appear to be hurt, but is was starving. She fixed it a bowl of food, and she said the kitten shoved its entire face in it, trying to eat it all at once. Hail said that the first thing to do from the Humane Society perspective was to have the animal examined by a veterinarian. The doctor said that the kitten was, obviously in need of food. She estimated the animal to be only a few weeks old, and said that the best chance for survival would be for the little animal to have constant care with a feeding regimen every two hours. The kitten was placed in the HSLC foster care program and is now getting the care and attention it needs in order to grow up healthy and strong. For Cummings and Hail, Officer Ryan Sullivan went far above and beyond the call of duty to help save the kitten and also restore harmony to the Cummings home. Speaking with Lincoln Police Chief Matt Vlahovich about the situation, he said that he was pleased that Sullivan was able to help the ladies. Though it is not the type of call the Lincoln police regularly respond to, Vlahovich said that it is in the line of duty for city officers. He said that the department considers it to be “good customer service” to help out residents with unique situations such as this. He noted that Cummings was upset and concerned and Sullivan could see that she had exhausted her options on trying to get help. For Vlahovich the concern was not only helping the kitten but helping the resident and he’s quite pleased that the city was able to assist with both. Cummings and Hail were both impressed with the city police officer and wanted the community to know that the police are there for them, even in the strangest of situations. They also wanted to publicly thank Sullivan for his efforts and dub him as their personal hero. LDN was touched by this story because we are living in a society that often tries to criminalize our police officers. It feels good to show that our local officers are folks with heart who care about not only our two-legged citizens but our four-legged ones as well. Thank you K-9 Officer Sullivan for being a caring part of our community. An update on May 24th: Other kittens from the same litter were found in healthier condition in a nearby crawlspace and rescued. Through the diligent care of its foster mom, Mary Moore, the rescued kitten is now thriving. Oh, and its name... what else, they call it ‘Sullivan.’ [Nila Smith]