Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Kitten Rescued After Being Tossed From Car On Verrazano Bridge


By

John Del Signore

Published Jul 7, 2011

Modified Jul 7, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

John Del Signore

Published Jul 7, 2011

Modified Jul 7, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

On Saturday afternoon, a worker with the city's Animal Care and Control Center on Staten Island was driving over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge when he saw something fly out the window of a passing vehicle. "At first he thought they were throwing garbage," AC&C spokesman Richard Gentles tells the Daily News. "Then he realized it was a kitten." Gentles believes the driver intended to toss the kitten over the edge of the bridge to its death but missed, and fortunately the AC&C officer came to his rescue.

The unidentified officer pulled over and flagged down some truck drivers, who stopped traffic as he rescued the five-week-old kitten, which was hiding by a barrier on the bridge roadway. "Thankfully he didn't run out into cars," Gentles adds, and says the kitten, which has been named "Verrazano," is a "Russian blue" who doesn't show any other signs of abuse. (According to Wikipedia, Russian blues "develop close bonds with their human companions and are highly sought after due to their personalities and unique coat.")

Verrazano will go into a foster home until he is old enough to be adopted when he's two months old; applications are currently being accepted. Meanwhile, authorities are trying to track down the worthless P.O.S. who tossed the cat from the car, and they're asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact them at info(at)nycacc.org. (That's also the email to use if you're interested in adopting Verrazano or another kitten.)

Tagged

cat

kittens

rescue

verrazano

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge


John Del Signore

Twitter

Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer

D’Angelo Caraballo and Sneider Mejia are wanted on several charges, including attempted murder.

By

Ben Feuerherd

Published Oct 6, 2026 at 11:05 a.m. ET


NYC’s autumn foliage will be a fall feast this year

A rainy fall will intensify autumn foliage colors, making them last longer, too.

By

Rosemary Misdary

News

NYC’s autumn foliage will be a fall feast this year

A rainy fall will intensify autumn foliage colors, making them last longer, too.

By

Rosemary Misdary


NY officials worry migrants will skip healthcare amid fed policy change

By

Caroline Lewis

Early Addition: Spy magazine is doing a Substack pop-up

By

James Ramsay

Bronx woman found dead and infant in critical condition after balcony push, NYPD says

By

Brittany Kriegstein


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .