What started as a regular workday quickly turned into an unexpected rescue mission for one UPS driver in Illinois.
While making his deliveries, Barry heard an unusual noise coming from the back of his truck. At first, he brushed it off, thinking it just a bunch of boxes rattling around.
However, when the sound persisted, he decided to investigate. What he found left him stunned and turned his day completely upside down.
A Mysterious Sound In The Truck
Barry was on his morning delivery route when he pulled up to a customer’s house. As he entered the back of his truck, he heard something strange—a faint sound that resembled a cat’s meow.
Since he was in a hurry, he ignored it at first. But after making his next stop, the meowing continued. This time, Barry knew he had to find out where it was coming from.
“I got down on my hands and knees on the ground and heard it louder from the rear wheels,” Barry explained in an interview.
The persistent sound led him to believe a cat was trapped somewhere inside the truck’s structure. Without wasting any time, he came up with a plan to set the little stowaway free.
A Clever Rescue Plan
Barry realized the cat was stuck behind a service panel in the truck. Acting quickly, he borrowed a screwdriver from a customer’s house and carefully opened the panel.
“I borrowed a screwdriver from the customer’s house I was at and opened a service panel, and he popped out,” Barry said.
As soon as the panel was opened, a friendly cat emerged, tail held high. The grateful feline immediately rubbed against Barry’s legs as if thanking him for the rescue. As Barry recalled:
“I have no idea how long he was there, but he was soaked from road grime. He was a very nice cat, rubbing up on my legs and very happy to be out of the spot he was stuck in.”
A New Travel Companion
Even though he was finally free, the cat had no intention of leaving. Instead, the soaked and exhausted feline refused to get off the truck, choosing to stay with the man who had saved him.
Despite his cat allergies, Barry wasn’t about to abandon his new travel companion. He decided to take the cat—whom he affectionately named Buddy—to the vet for a check-up.
On the way there, Buddy made himself right at home inside the truck, perching on top of a large box and watching the world go by.
“He kept me company. Once we started down the road and started delivering again, he stayed right there on the box until we reached the vet’s office,” Barry said.
A Happy Ending For Buddy
At the vet’s office, Buddy was diagnosed with breathing issues and given the necessary medical treatment. After his check-up, he was taken in by Friends Forever Humane Society in Illinois, where he would receive care until he found a loving home.
Barry was relieved to know that Buddy was now in safe hands. What started as a normal workday turned into a rescue mission he would never forget.
Though the two unlikely friends parted ways, Barry will always remember the unexpected passenger who turned an ordinary day into something truly special.