Four-Day Ordeal Ends for Medina Feline
By: Tina Shively
Updated: June 28, 2012
A four day ordeal has finally come to an end in Medina.
A cat was trapped 60 feet off the ground, crying for help, just out of the reach of rescue crews, until today.
Sorbet (pronounced "Sherbet") the cat has been stuck 60 feet off the ground since Sunday, hungry, thirsty and crying out for help.
Calling out to Sorbet, tossing treats into the tree and climbing a ladder are just some of the things Katelyn McDonald tried over the past four days to get Sorbet down.
A tree trimmer tried a rescue, but scared the cat 20 feet higher.
Katelyn got desperate, and pleaded with area fire departments to help.
East Shelby Fire Chief Mike Fuller said "I've been with the fire company 37 years. Normally a cat will come out of a tree."
Despite that, Fuller knew he had to help sooner than later.
But he also knew his 24-foot ladder wouldn't come close to the frightened feline, so he began calling in some far reaching friends.
He added "I'm an animal lover. I have a feeling for the cat and there's only so much resources I have at my calling to try. We've tried for 2 days here, hopefully this is a success story this time."
A crew from National Grid took the ladder up as far as it would go. Stretching, reaching, but Sorbet wouldnt jump.
Katelyn was heartbroken when the bucket came down empty.
She said "It's hard. I can't just give up on her. I'm not the kind to give up."
Then, the National Grid driver had an idea. He knew of a tree trimmer with the tools to fetch the cat that could be on the scene within minutes.
The Asplundh Tree Company showed up and saved the day.
"He was hungry, scared, wanted to get down. But when he saw me I thought he was gonna jump at first so I grabbed him real quick and then he cries the whole way down, scratched me a little bit but it went well...I'm glad that they were reunited and the cat's safe and job well done. Nobody got hurt, the cat didn't get hurt. Happy endings."
Katelyn is very happy to have Sorbet back, plans on keeping a closer eye on her in the future.
A cat was trapped 60 feet off the ground, crying for help, just out of the reach of rescue crews, until today.
Sorbet (pronounced "Sherbet") the cat has been stuck 60 feet off the ground since Sunday, hungry, thirsty and crying out for help.
Calling out to Sorbet, tossing treats into the tree and climbing a ladder are just some of the things Katelyn McDonald tried over the past four days to get Sorbet down.
A tree trimmer tried a rescue, but scared the cat 20 feet higher.
Katelyn got desperate, and pleaded with area fire departments to help.
East Shelby Fire Chief Mike Fuller said "I've been with the fire company 37 years. Normally a cat will come out of a tree."
Despite that, Fuller knew he had to help sooner than later.
But he also knew his 24-foot ladder wouldn't come close to the frightened feline, so he began calling in some far reaching friends.
He added "I'm an animal lover. I have a feeling for the cat and there's only so much resources I have at my calling to try. We've tried for 2 days here, hopefully this is a success story this time."
A crew from National Grid took the ladder up as far as it would go. Stretching, reaching, but Sorbet wouldnt jump.
Katelyn was heartbroken when the bucket came down empty.
She said "It's hard. I can't just give up on her. I'm not the kind to give up."
Then, the National Grid driver had an idea. He knew of a tree trimmer with the tools to fetch the cat that could be on the scene within minutes.
The Asplundh Tree Company showed up and saved the day.
"He was hungry, scared, wanted to get down. But when he saw me I thought he was gonna jump at first so I grabbed him real quick and then he cries the whole way down, scratched me a little bit but it went well...I'm glad that they were reunited and the cat's safe and job well done. Nobody got hurt, the cat didn't get hurt. Happy endings."
Katelyn is very happy to have Sorbet back, plans on keeping a closer eye on her in the future.
Comments
One mistake though, not the crews in Medina, they were the least of help, no help at all, it's thankyou to the crews in Shelby, they were the ones who kept trying different things, and thankyou to Grant the tree climber for climbing the tree several times to try and get her, you really tried your hardest and best, thankyou. Thankyou thankyou thankyou, and finally thankyou. I'm so grateful and I know Sorbet is too, thankyou Asplundh for finally rescuing her from that forsaken ordeal and tree, I nearly cried, but all I wanted to do after that was get her fed and watered, thankyou to everyone who tried so hard. Thankyou to WROC News 8 for taking interest in this story, and coming all the way from Rochester, if it wasn't for you, my kitty would still be stuck in the tree, you were the ones who made the difference, they probably wouldn't have come, or it would have taken longer to get her out of the tree, if not for you. To Tina Shively and her intern and camera man (I forgot (or didn't learn) your names, sorry) thankyou for your support and interest. You have no idea how grateful I am for you to save my precious baby. %u2665
Heartache K.
June 28, 2012 at 7:22 am
