Patty Grabowski and Tally

On the evening of 9 February 2011, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a quiet neighborhood turned suddenly chaotic when a gas line leak caused an explosion that leveled two homes and took the lives of five people. An entire row of homes was destroyed by the fire that followed. Dozens were injured and hundreds more in the area had to be evacuated.

Ed and Karen Grabowski, who lived in one of the homes that was destroyed by the fire, were already tucked into bed that night. They escaped their burning home by crawling out of a first story window in their PJs. Karen tried to get back inside to rescue their much loved 11-year-old Maine Coon kitty, Tally, named after Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler (Steven Victor Tallarico) as reported by The Morning Call. Emergency personnel would not let her back into the burning building. Fearing the worst, the Grabowskis could only watch as everything they owned was lost to the fire. They prayed that Tally would somehow make it out alive.

The second morning after the fire, the Grabowskis, who are staying with relatives in a nearby town, got a call from a fire policeman with amazing news — he had found a fluffy, black and white kitty hiding in a hole under the remnants of their home. Other than being a bit scared and filthy and smelling funny, Tally was alive, well and ready for some serious cuddling. The Grabowskis called their friend, who lived near the site, and she went right away to pick up Tally. As the Grabowski’s 28-year-old daughter, Patricia, told local news after Tally’s return, “My mom is a million times better.”

Sometimes, when sad things happen in life, it only takes a little moment of joy to remind us that all is not lost. In this case, it took a purring survivor named Tally.

You can also follow Tally on Facebook.

Photo used with permission of the Grabowski family.

Tagged as: allentown explosion, feline survivor, Maine coon, rescues and reunions, Tally the cat