ALLIANCE, Ohio — An Alliance woman is thanking first responders after saving her kitten, Rahmat, who was stuck inside a reclining chair.
Mistura Akiaguade's nightmare started when she put the chair in its original upright position. She had no idea the kitten was underneath until she heard it let out a sound she had never heard before.
"She started screaming," a teary-eyed Akiaguade told 3News.
Fearing she was running out of time, Akiaguade called Alliance Police Department for help. The first officer struggled, so he called for more help. Another officer responded shortly after, but it was still a challenge to get the kitten removed from the chair.
Police then called for backup, and the Alliance Fire Department responded. Altogether, it took about six men and women from two departments to help the family, cutting the chair to get the cat out.
"I was just emotional, because I could see the way she was crying and I couldn't help her," Rahmat recalled afterward. "My pet was asking for help and I couldn't help her for the first time."
Akiaguade is new to the United States, and Rahmat has helped her to adjust from being so far away from home.
"I love America so much more now," she said.
While the kitten is bruised, she will be okay after a scary moment for a family that loves her so much. Akiaguade is now warning others to always be aware of their pets, especially before reclining a chair.
"I don't want any family to through this," she says. "I am really thankful and appreciative to the police and firefighters for coming to the rescue."