(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A Wheeling animal shelter honors a Waste Management worker for helping save their animals.
Making his rounds as a sanitation worker with Waste Management last week in Wheeling, Tony Maticic spotted about two feet of water cascading out the door of the Heartland Animal Shelter after he noticed more cats up on the windowsills than normal.
That's when he called 911 and ultimately helped save the lives of more than 100 pets.
The shelter honored Maticic by visiting him at work to show their appreciation.
“And to know that every time that you come to the shelter, that you know what’s going on. That you see the kitties in the window. That you cared to notice that there were more cats in the windows and that something was off,” Jenny Schlueter, executive director of the shelter, said at the event.
Maticic was grateful for the show of appreciation, but focused on the animals.
“I’m just so grateful I got to save all of these beautiful animals, all that’s left to do is have them all adopted,” Maticic said.
Heartland Animal Shelter was under 2 feet of water, after a pipe burst overnight last month. Maticic saved 25 dogs and 76 cats.
Heartland is currently raising money to support clean-up efforts. Donations can be made on their website.
The shelter says it does not expect to be back in their building until the end of August.
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