Vic: Kitten dubbed 'Hoover' after street sweeper ordeal

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2003
Vic: Kitten dubbed 'Hoover' after street sweeper ordeal

MELBOURNE, Dec 15 AAP - A seven-week-old kitten has miraculously survived after being
sucked into a street sweeper at Morwell, east of Melbourne.

Street sweeper driver Ernie Jones, 41, said it was "amazing" the kitten wasn't hurt
by the large wire brushes on the truck.

"He must have been trying to avoid the brushes and jumped up into the vacuum as I drove
by," he said.

"I went to the back to open it up and empty it and out rolled the kitten.

"I just couldn't belive it. He was pretty dirty but other than that he was okay."

Mr Jones took the kitten back to his depot at the end of his run. It was handed over
to the Morwell Animal Clinic.

Vet Nick Emerton said staff were amazed that the tiny grey tabby kitten survived.

"It was obviously pretty distressed but other than some grit in his eyes, he was fine," he said.

Dr Emerton said the kitten, christened Hoover, would be found a good home through the
clinic's Adopt a Kitten program.

"He's a great little kitten, really affectionate and purrs a lot. I think he's over his ordeal."

AAP rb/gfr/drp/jlw

KEYWORD: KITTEN

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