Shortly after Phyllis her her 4-year-old rescue cat, Kylie, moved from Richmond, California, to Cleveland, Ohio, the curious feline escaped his new home and scaled 25-feet up an evergreen tree. Small, prickly branches protruding from the trunk prevented him from exiting the tree without injury. Phyllis could hear the “scared and stuck” cat but when she shone her flashlight up the trunk toward the sound of his whimpering, all that was visible of the black, gray, and white tabby were a pair of eyes glowing in the dark.
The weather was wet and cold. Low temperatures were expected during the night. It soon became clear to Phyllis that the frightened feline would not be coaxed down so she called the fire department. Upon arrival they told Phyllis they could do nothing that night because their ladder would not reach the tree top. They advised Phyllis to place food and catnip at the base of the tree thinking Kylie would be lured down by hunger. Doubtful but desperate, Phyllis followed their suggestions.
When morning came, Kylie was in the same spot. A second call to the fire department was routed to animal control. After observing the situation, the officer believed that Kylie’s leg was stuck but that he would free himself and come down if he got hungry or cold enough. Phyllis knew better. The officer agreed to speak to the fire department and was informed that cat rescues were not part of their job description.
A dozen arborists were called. Of those that had trucks with cherry pickers that could pluck Kylie from his perch, none were available to make the call. By now Phyllis was accustomed to hearing that the cat would come down on his own so she contacted the homeowner’s association landscaper to seek ideas. He agreed with Phyllis that Kylie would not make it down the tree without assistance nor could he survive another night trapped outdoors. Hawks posed a threat and the cat was perfectly positioned as easy prey. Temperatures were expected to reach 29 degrees and Kylie had been without food and water for more than a day.
Phyllis stubbornly placed another call to the fire department. The receptionist she spoke with was an animal lover, who argued with the fire chief that if they could send trucks to block parties, they could rescue a cat! Soon enough a ladder truck arrived with a paramedic vehicle and an animal control officer in tow. Kylie’s big adventure came to an end and he seemed relieved to return to more mundane cat concerns within the warmth and safety of his new home. At last, everyone was in agreement.
by Elizabeth Sundstrom
The weather was wet and cold. Low temperatures were expected during the night. It soon became clear to Phyllis that the frightened feline would not be coaxed down so she called the fire department. Upon arrival they told Phyllis they could do nothing that night because their ladder would not reach the tree top. They advised Phyllis to place food and catnip at the base of the tree thinking Kylie would be lured down by hunger. Doubtful but desperate, Phyllis followed their suggestions.
When morning came, Kylie was in the same spot. A second call to the fire department was routed to animal control. After observing the situation, the officer believed that Kylie’s leg was stuck but that he would free himself and come down if he got hungry or cold enough. Phyllis knew better. The officer agreed to speak to the fire department and was informed that cat rescues were not part of their job description.
A dozen arborists were called. Of those that had trucks with cherry pickers that could pluck Kylie from his perch, none were available to make the call. By now Phyllis was accustomed to hearing that the cat would come down on his own so she contacted the homeowner’s association landscaper to seek ideas. He agreed with Phyllis that Kylie would not make it down the tree without assistance nor could he survive another night trapped outdoors. Hawks posed a threat and the cat was perfectly positioned as easy prey. Temperatures were expected to reach 29 degrees and Kylie had been without food and water for more than a day.
Phyllis stubbornly placed another call to the fire department. The receptionist she spoke with was an animal lover, who argued with the fire chief that if they could send trucks to block parties, they could rescue a cat! Soon enough a ladder truck arrived with a paramedic vehicle and an animal control officer in tow. Kylie’s big adventure came to an end and he seemed relieved to return to more mundane cat concerns within the warmth and safety of his new home. At last, everyone was in agreement.
by Elizabeth Sundstrom
Quite a wonderful story!
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