BLOOMINGTON - Three kittens are recovering in a new foster home after a 12-hour ordeal in a storm drain.

It took four plumbers, two animal rescue workers, one real estate agent and one apartment manager to rescue the three-week-old females from a storm drain near ReMax Choice, 2404 E. Empire St.

"Even the guys had misty eyes," said Krista McAlerney who works at the real estate office. She first heard the mewing about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, almost 12 hours before the rescue was complete.

Animal control workers and Bloomington firefighters tried to help, but were unsuccessful, she said.

The rescue operation moved forward after Pat and J. Garrie Burr of Central Illinois Small Animal Rescue of Colfax started calling friends in the plumbing business.

"I had seven angels out there that day," said McAlerney of the effort. "We were completely exhausted."

The kittens were trapped about 30 feet from the entrance of the sewer. McAlerney said the mother cat had moved the kittens and couldn't get them back. No one knows what happened to her.

"The (kittens) were not in a good place," said Mike Randall of Anaconda Sewer and Drain. Soon, he called plumber and former boss Mike Olson of Rewesewer. Other friends and relatives also helped.

Olson used a fiber optic camera to locate the kittens. The team opened a manhole and rigged a bucket and rope contraption to try nudge the kittens toward the opening.

When that didn't work, Randall got a rubber lid from his car and fashioned a sled to pull the kittens out. "We gave them a sleigh ride through the storm drain," Randall said.

Cinnamon was rescued first, followed by Stormy and Pita. The kittens were all wet and black from the sewer, but were "cute, little fur balls" after they were cleaned up, Pat Burr said.

Vera Honoka of Champaign, who will keep the kittens until they are old enough and strong enough for adoption, said they seem to be doing quite well.

Pat Burr was grateful for the help. "These big men gave up four or five hours of their time to save three kittens," Pat Burr said.

"Of course, we did not charge anybody for our time," said Randall. "When it comes time to rescue three little, helpless kittens, you do what you have to do."

How to help

To adopt one of the kittens, call Pat Burr at Central Illinois Small Animal Rescue (CISAR) at (309) 287-3608.