Lucy first noticed two Red-tailed Hawks standing in the middle of the road. One of the birds was firmly clutching something in its powerful talons. "I assumed it was a squirrel, as it was grey and about the same size," she recalled.
But as she got closer, Lucy saw the "prey" wriggling frantically. It was a kitten. Without a second thought, she stopped her car right in the middle of the lane: "Honestly, I didn't know if there was anything I could do, but I had to try."
A lucky escape
Seeing Lucy running towards it, the hawk tried to fly away with its precious cargo. Fortunately, whether due to the weight or panic, it ended up dropping the kitten before disappearing into the sky. Lucy found the terrified little creature on the side of the road. "He was rolling onto his back, spitting and hissing with his claws out. It's understandable; he was scared to death."
Lucy immediately contacted her friend Jonna, who runs the Woof Ave Rescue centre, to take in the little survivor. Against all odds, despite the power of the hawk's talons, the kitten had only suffered a few superficial scratches.
A new name
At the rescue centre, the little survivor was aptly named Hawk, in honour of his 'captor'. Hawk, who appears to have been a stray until now, is slowly recovering from his ordeal among the other cats rescued by the organisation.
If he hadn't crossed paths with Lucy at that exact moment, this little kitten's fate would have been far more tragic. Now safe and sound, he is waiting for a family to adopt him so he can start his new life, far from any dangers from the sky. "I'm so glad I was there at the exact moment this little one needed someone!" concluded Lucy, still reeling from the incredible encounter.
