By Sasha Preek
If you know me, you know I simply love animals, cats being very high on my list. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share a story I recently learned about a cat saved by a mechanic. But not just any mechanic. “Mo”, the owner of Mo’s Auto Shop in Des Moines, IA, is known for his skill with cars, but on this particular morning, it wasn’t an engine that needed fixing it was a life that needed saving.
The call came in early, before Mo’s usual workday began. A woman on the other end of the line sounded desperate. The night before, she had adopted a kitten from a rescue, and on the way home, her child had excitedly opened the carrier. The little tabby, overwhelmed and terrified, bolted straight into the dashboard of their car. Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t coax the kitten out. It had been trapped in the dark, enclosed space overnight, alone and frightened.
Kim, Mo’s wife said it really bothered him that he didn’t get called until the next morning. He knew that kitten had spent the whole night trembling, scared, thirsty and confused. He and his wife, both devoted cat lovers, rushed to the scene. They knew time was of the essence.
When they arrived, the situation became even more urgent. The tiny kitten had wedged herself so deeply inside the dashboard that she was neither visible nor audible. Mo, who has spent his life working with cars, knew this was going to be tricky. There was no way to know if the kitten was injured or if, in her panic, she might squeeze herself into an even worse predicament.
Without hesitation, Mo grabbed his tools and started disassembling the dashboard.
Bolts hit the floor, wires were carefully maneuvered, and panel by panel the car’s interior came apart. His hands moved with precision, but his heart was pounding. Minutes ticked by. Then an hour. The room was tense. Still no sign of the kitten.
And then, finally a glimpse.
A flash of fur, tucked into the center of the dash. Mo’s breath caught. The kitten was the same coloring as Carly, the cat he adores the one who follows him everywhere, who wakes him every morning, who filled the space left behind when their beloved cat Carl passed away. In that moment, it wasn’t just another job. It was personal.
He pushed forward, carefully removing more and more parts, inching closer. Almost there. The owner crouched beside him, her hands trembling with anticipation.
But the kitten wasn’t ready to be saved.
As they reached for her, she pressed herself tighter against the car’s frame. Fear gripped her tiny body. Hands coming toward her, unfamiliar and terrifying, sent her into another round of frantic resistance. She had nowhere to go, but she wasn’t making it easy.
For another painstaking hour, Mo worked, never losing patience, never giving up. And then, with one final effort, they had her. Small, shaking, but safe.
The owner wasted no time wrapping the kitten in a blanket, holding her close, whispering reassurances. Mo let out a relieved sigh, glad to see the kitten safe and sound at last.
His wife saw the emotion in his eyes. This wasn’t just about fixing a problem it was about saving a life.
Despite their protests, the owner insisted on paying them double what they had asked. “You didn’t charge enough for what you did,” she said, her gratitude overflowing. However, Mo didn’t do it for the money. He did it because a helpless little soul needed him, and he wasn’t the kind of man to turn away from such an important job.
As Mo put the dashboard back together, the kitten, now safely inside her new home, settled into the warmth of her owner’s arms. She had been given a second chance at life, thanks to a mechanic whose hands were as skilled at saving as they were at fixing.
Mo may spend his days repairing cars, but on that morning, he did something far greater he reminded us that kindness and compassion can make all the difference, even for the smallest among us.
Mo is the owner of Mo’s Auto Shop in Des Moines, IA. He provides mobile mechanic and in-garage repairs.
515-991-3870
146 S. 11th Street #3
West Des Moines, IA 50265
www.mosautoshop.com
You don’t have to be a mechanic or a first responder to be a hero. You can make a difference by donating to your local no-kill animal shelter or supporting organizations like the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, which has helped more than a million pets in need. If you’d like to contribute, visit www.arl-iowa.org and be part of a rescue story of your own.
