WINK-TV meteorologist Dylan Federico has broken a cardinal rule of the internet by failing to even attempt to rescue a cat that was stranded on a bench as Hurricane Ian flooded the area. The internet seemed to unify for the evening, as people from all across the political spectrum joined in shaming him. In a now-deleted tweet, Federico posted a video of the drenched and stranded kitten with the caption, “Storm surge is rising rapidly outside WINK News. A kitten is on the bench trying to escape the water. The doors are locked but we’re trying to get the kitten inside.”
After being swarmed with backlash, Federico tweeted, “Right after the video was posted we attempted to get to the cat but it swam in a different direction out of view. I waited to post an update in hopes we could grab it. Please take your companions with you when you evacuate.”
While he claimed he tried to get the kitten, a photo posted afterwards showed him in perfectly dry attire.
Also look at this posted after…… perfect dry suit and perfectly white dry shoes….. well you all get the picture pic.twitter.com/ez3QGZRKRd
— Becca Furnish (@Becca_Furnish) September 28, 2022
You’re telling us that tiny, frozen in fear kitten jumped in the water and swam? You grab the cat first, not the camera!
— BobK (@frawgleggz) September 28, 2022
You’re saying the water advanced that high that quickly so that the cat had no choice but to swim? Not buying that.
— JCrow (@jlc225) September 28, 2022
People also noted that coworkers of his were leaving through the parking garage, and he could have walked outside that way.
Thank goodness the magic locked doors also opened for another of Dylan’s colleagues to get video for the national outlet. Need to get me some of them doors t.co/6MQ5Ijjpya
— Sunny McSunnyface (@sunnyright) September 28, 2022
Louisiana meteorologist Ashley Ruiz said that a coworker of Federico told her that the cat was dead.
“One of my coworkers worked at WINK and she texted a friend there asking if the kitten got saved. Their reply was ” I don’t think so. ” and then “It didn’t survive.” 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Is this true?!?!” she tweeted at Federico.
She also called B.S. on his claim that the cat jumped into the water and swam away.
I imagine it was washed away. Hopefully it was able to find a higher spot. A kitten taking refuge from rising water wouldn’t jump into rising water 😔
— Ashley Ruiz (@AshleyRuizWx) September 29, 2022
“I imagine it was washed away. Hopefully it was able to find a higher spot. A kitten taking refuge from rising water wouldn’t jump into rising water 😔” Ruiz tweeted.
