The pilot who rescued Mirage from the canyon has now saved her twice.
Chelsea Tugaw was flying the search and rescue helicopter last month when park goers found two people dead below one of Inspiration Point’s spires.
Tugaw said rescuers picked up what looked like a backpack and discovered it was a dirt-covered pet carrier with an elderly cat inside. The animal rescue named the cat Mirage because they said surviving a fall like that was unreal.
Mirage is recovering from a few broken ribs and teeth and needed treatment for fluid around her heart.
Best Friends Animal Society contacted the couple’s relatives who gave Tugaw their blessing to adopt Mirage.
Tugaw told Best Friends she wants to give Mirage the perfect retirement life and “let her be a nice lazy cat in her old age.”
