Meow

One Saturday evening not long ago, the distressed cries of a cat could be heard coming from our neighbor’s 70-foot-high tree. Closer examination with binoculars revealed that is was indeed a kitty stuck about five feet from the top. Throughout the next day, neighbors up and down our street visited the tree – all worried for the cat’s safety. One person placed a can of cat food at the base of the tree, and drove to the Fire Department for help. We learned that the Fire Department does not have the equipment nor ability to rescue treed cats.

A series of phone calls put us in touch with Shaun Sears of Canopy Cat Rescue. Even though it was not known whom the cat belonged to, Shaun offered to drive from the Seattle area to La Conner the next morning to rescue the kitty. Shaun and his partner are certified arborists who rescue hundreds of cats a year. They operate as a non-profit and work from donations.

Shaun arrived the next morning as promised, roped up, climbed the tree and gently coaxed the cat to him. He was able to bag the cat and bring him safely down. My neighbor recognized the cat as one who lives on the street down from us.

Shaun told us that treed cats won’t always climb back down when they get hungry. He doesn’t think that our cat would have been able to get down on his own. (He once rescued a cat that was in a tree for 15 days.) We are so appreciative of Shaun for his brave and dedicated service. He is a hero! We took up a collection to pay him for his good work.

If any readers encounter a cat up a tree, call Canopy Cat Rescue at 1-877-721-6369, or go online at canopycatrescue.com.

Suzanne Kersikofski

Shelter Bay