Cat caught in tree in Virginia sparks social media outrage

By early Wednesday afternoon, with the feline nonetheless within the tree, the net frenzy grew to become an excessive amount of, prompting animal management response and a fireplace crew to deliver a ladder truck to assist free the cat.

The cat drama began Monday night at a home on Folin Court within the Spotsylvania neighborhood, in keeping with a neighbor of the householders the place the feline was stranded.

The neighbor, Rick Anderson, mentioned the householders’ canine chased the cat, which ran up the tree to flee. He mentioned one of many householders used a water hose in an try to spray the cat so it could leap from the tree. But the cat climbed greater, finally reaching close to the highest of the tree, which is about 30 ft tall.

Anderson’s daughter, Kelly, posted a photograph and particulars on-line concerning the state of affairs on FXBG Talk, a Facebook group. The put up generated a number of consideration and feedback, which continued to develop as two days handed with the cat nonetheless within the tree.

Cindy Bishop, whose daughter is buddies with Kelly Anderson, contacted the Free Lance-Star concerning the state of affairs, saying folks provided to pay for a tree service to assist free the cat, however the householders refused to permit the corporate on their property.

“Over 48 hours have passed, and the cat remains stranded,” Bishop wrote in an e-mail to the FLS. “Concerned neighbors and participants on (FXBG Talk) have reached out to animal control, only to be told that nothing could be done. This lack of action raises questions about the understanding of animal cruelty laws.”

FXBG Talk finally pulled the unique put up concerning the state of affairs due to threats and private info being launched concerning the householders.

Shortly earlier than 1 p.m. Wednesday, a number of animal management officers confirmed up on the scene, quickly adopted by a fireplace division ladder truck.

The fireplace crew stretched the ladder to the tree and a crew member labored his method to the cat. After some maneuvering he reached the cat, which had earlier moved to a department at concerning the tree’s halfway level. As the fireman grabbed the cat, the feline darted down the tree, adeptly ricocheting off the trunk and touchdown within the yard, close to a hen coop.

The cat then scurried off and vanished.

One of the deputies on the scene mentioned cats are free-roaming animals so the division isn’t required to reply to such conditions. He mentioned they got here to the scene as a result of “there was harassment going on.”

Bishop had a distinct tackle the social media response.

“One factor I do know … stress labored!” Bishop mentioned in an e-mail. “To me, I see proper and mistaken is black and white … no grey. It’s wonderful how this all unfolded since yesterday.”