The unlikely story of how Vista the cat ended up being adopted by a Multnomah County sheriff’s deputy begins at a county parking lot where a Search and Rescue vehicle was parked. During training, one of our K9’s alerted to the truck and a fleet technician was asked to perform an inspection of the vehicle for a rodent. Before the inspection occurred, on August 12, MCSO Search and Rescue was called out to the Vista House in the Gorge. The truck traveled over 10 miles at freeway speeds and another 5 miles up the winding road to the call location. 

When the SAR volunteers were gearing up for their mission, they heard a tiny cry. They figured out the noises were coming from the truck! While most of the volunteers headed out into the field, two remained behind to disassemble a wheel-well on the truck to reach the inner mechanical spaces. What did they find? A small black kitten! 

We are happy to report that one of our Search and Rescue deputies adopted the feral kitten, who is affectionately now named Vista. The kitten saw the veterinarian and is currently being treated for a cold but is otherwise uninjured and in good health!

MCSO Search and Rescue volunteers will be available for interviews, and the rescue truck will be staged at the location for additional b-roll. Photos are included of the efforts to rescue Vista.