Posted: 10/19/2008 2:20:38 PM EDT
|
Does anyone ever really call ya'll to get cats out of trees? This has been ingrained into my son's (3YO) head from a couple of books we read to him. Just got me wondering if it's something you have ever done, or if adults actually expect you to do it. |
We do get calls for that every so often (not as rare as it should be), but we don't dispatch a fire truck to it. We will go however if the owner or a do gooder is stuck in the same tree. Our Chiefs philosophy is.. "Have you ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree?".......
|
+1 We look at it as a cost issue. Maintenance and fuel on a several hundred thousand dollar truck vs. kitty coming down when its hungry. 
|
Now, if the media is already there then maybe just maybe....... 
|
As EMS I have heard the stories.  And yes I have seen a cat skeleton it a tree, but i think a bobcat got him/her up there.
|
|
The one time a Little Old Lady DEMANDED my old VFD Chief do something, he called for a booster line. Yes, he did. Yes, the cat got out of the three. No, the lady was not happy, but did finally acknowlege that she had demanded action and gotten action. Usually, the best solution is akin to Steve Martin in Roxanne - open a can of food near the bottom of the tree and let the cat self-evacuate. |
|
Last 10 years, I have responded to 3 cat calls, (no pun intended) Two in a tree and one caught in a fireplace heatalator duct. The first cat was removed by a responders personal bucket truck, second one I cut down the tree and the cat jumped out of the tree as it fell and the third cat, the one caught in the fireplace duct, we ended up hammer drilling the back of the fireplace to free the animal. Just makes ya think, ever walk through the woods and find a dead cat in a tree? trust me they do come down on their own Unbelevable |
LOL I can remember my grandfather telling my grandmother that once, when she was worried about our cat that had been up a tree all day. |
|
Three times in 26 years. The first two times we went up w/ extension ladders. Third time we used an 1-3/4" line. That did the trick. I've used the cat skeleton line before but it only drew a blank look. We had two calls for dogs stuck in lava tubes. Rescue guy made entry on one and ended up getting bit. He did get the dog out though. Second one I went in and we used a rigged up safety strap to get him out. Beautiful Pit Bull. He was very happy to see me. |
Our policy is the same. We did get a squirrel out of a birdfeeder one time though. Thank God for thick leather gloves. |
|
Some folks came by once with a baby squirrel, wanting us to put it back up in the tree, but we toled 'em no. Was sent on a few "car vs pedestrians" where the pedestrians were dogs, but not much to do. But, to answer your sons question about cats in trees. Have you EVER seen a cat skeleton in a tree? Cats will come down when they feel like it. That's the way cats are.
|