From New York Post · · 1m 20s
Jabal the bodega cat is home
A Park Slope kitten was returned after neighbors, posters, and police turned a cat snatching into a blockwide mission.
In brief
A Park Slope kitten was returned after neighbors, posters, and police turned a cat snatching into a blockwide mission. Jabal came home because neighbors treated one small pet like part of the community, and the pressure worked. Originally reported by New York Post.
Jabal came home
Police returned three-month-old Jabal to the 8th St. Mini Mart on Tuesday, days after he was taken from a Park Slope sidewalk.
“The cat-astrophe has ended.”
His owner broke down
Imad “Jimmy” Innab said the kitten recognized him right away when officers opened the bag at the shop.
“He saw me and just jumped!”
Neighbors pushed hard
Locals helped track the pair and pressed them to return Jabal after one neighbor warned he was a pet, not a stray.
The return went through police
The pink-haired woman allegedly sent her stepson to bring Jabal to the 78th precinct. Police then carried the kitten back to Innab.
The snatch was filmed
Security footage showed a man picking Jabal up as he and a woman walked on 8th Avenue. The kitten appeared to try to get away.
Park Slope rallied
Customers plastered missing posters across the neighborhood. Danielle Barnett said Jabal had become a local celebrity in just a month.
“everyone just pitched in to help”
Leave pets alone
Innab said he was grateful Jabal was returned, but warned people not to grab animals that may already have a home.
“You can’t just take anything that doesn’t belong to you.”
In short
Jabal came home because neighbors treated one small pet like part of the community, and the pressure worked.
