On Aug. 7 at approximately 6:30 p.m., a very fierce storm ripped through Monmouth County. Freehold, Marlboro and Colts Neck got the worst part of it.
In my neighborhood, trees were blowing, some even falling, the lights flickered and I heard the sound of torrential downpours along with booms of thunder as I was watching the intense storm through my family room window.
As my family was at my brother’s baseball game, I was home alone and was concerned for my 1-year-old rabbit, Rocket, outside in the middle of the storm, in his fairly large hutch. I quickly ran over to another window to get a better view of my poor rabbit.
Suddenly, the hutch started rocking back and forth. With one mighty blow of wind, the cage completely tipped over and the roof of the hutch opened up. It was total chaos! Rocket’s water bottle, ice bottle, food container and litter box went soaring through my backyard. A possibility went through my mind that Rocket may have been injured and/or ran away in fright.
I called my neighbor, (Free-hold Township) Police Officer Dan Pasquinucci, who was off duty, to come over and help me find my rabbit.
I ran outside and quickly became drenched, hoping to find Rocket. I finally looked under a bush and there he was — cold, wet and full of mulch. I lifted the bulky cage up and put Rocket in.
Then Officer Dan arrived on the scene, in the middle of the storm. We carried the hutch into my garage for shelter.
Then I gave Rocket some treats to try to calm him down. I thanked Officer Dan for helping me save my rabbit.
The next morning, I went out to see how my rabbit was doing. He was all happy, dry and very clean. As I looked at the front page of the newspaper, it said the vicious storm might have been a small tornado.
Officer Dan is really never off duty, as he is always there in times of need and helped me save my small rabbit during the middle of a very brutal storm. I am very grateful to have Officer Dan as a close neighbor, as he is very kind and considerate.
Eddie Bishof
age 13
Freehold Township

