Dedicated a lifetime but getting cut? ... 16-year veteran ambulance mascot British cat finally

Raised at the Emergency Center for 16 Years Since Kittenhood
Equivalent to Eighty in Human Years...Emerges as Local Mascot
Facing Ouster After Management Change...Saved by Petition

A cat that has lived in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) ambulance service center for 16 years has escaped an effective 'dismissal crisis.' When authorities tried to evict this cat, which had become a de facto local mascot, citizens protested and stopped it.

Recently, London regional magazine London Evening Standard and others reported the story of 'Defib,' a cat nearly expelled from the London Ambulance Service center. Defib was rescued in 2008 near Walthamstow station, one of the ambulance branches.

At that time, ambulance staff took in Defib, a stray kitten with nowhere to go, allowing it to live in the office, which eventually became Defib's new home. It appears that the ambulance staff also named the previously unnamed kitten Defib. The name Defib is derived from the defibrillator, an essential piece of equipment for paramedics.

16-year-old London Ambulance Service mascot cat Dippip
[Image source: London Ambulance Service official website capture]

Since then, Defib has served as the 'mascot' of the London Walthamstow Ambulance Center for 16 years. Images of Defib resting atop an ambulance spread on social media, making the cat somewhat of a celebrity.

Now over 16 years old, Defib is equivalent to an octogenarian in human years. However, recently Defib was nearly forcibly evicted from the Walthamstow office. The change in management at the office put Defib's home at risk of disappearing.

Unable to stand by, one employee posted a public protest petition on the UK public petition site 'Change.' He urged, "A 16-year-old elderly cat is at risk of being kicked out," and "We must protect the cat who has lived happily for 16 years and helped relieve staff stress." The petition quickly spread online, garnering over 62,000 signatures.

Dipp resting on top of an ambulance [Image source=Change Petition website capture]

The petition was even delivered to Wes Streeting, the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Eventually, Secretary Streeting personally promised to maintain Defib's home.

Accordingly, the management of the Walthamstow Ambulance Center withdrew their previous stance. CEO Daniel Elkeles posted on the official social media, stating, "After listening to the opinions of staff and the public, we agreed that it is better for Defib to remain at the ambulance center," adding, "This cat is greatly loved by the staff and seems to have captured the hearts of the public as well."

Subsequently, the employees who wrote the petition released a statement saying, "Thanks to your help, love, and kindness, we can live again with this amazing feline friend," and "We are deeply grateful to the citizens of London who raised their voices for one small cat. Words cannot express how thankful we are."