Man no scaredy-cat in stray’s lofty-perch rescue

FORT QU’APPELLE It was all good fortune when a frightened and bewildered black cat in Fort Qu’appelle was lowered from a tree in which it had spent more than three days in the cold without food or the prospect of immediate rescue.

The cat was discovered earlier this week by Fort Qu’appelle resident Shelley Weinberger, who spotted it perched on a branch about 18 metres up.

Store-bought treats failed to tempt the stray to the ground and Weinberger had no luck finding anyone who could rescue it until the owner of a Regina moving and storage business came to her aid.

Jeromy Desjarlais used a ladder and safety harness to climb the tree on Wednesday afternoon and pluck the feisty feline from a branch before it was handed off to Weinberger as local residents clapped and cheered.

Weinberger isn’t sure where the cat came from but she plans to feed and water the animal before taking it to a veterinarian for a checkup.

“It started biting and scratching me,” said a relieved Desjarlais, who had responded to the cat’s dilemma after seeing a Facebook posting.

“I could only use one arm coming down … I couldn’t clip myself to the tree so that was the scary part. I’m just glad that I was able to help.”

Prior to the rescue, Weinberger had contacted the Town of Fort Qu’appelle and Saskpower about plucking the cat from its lofty lookout but was told they didn’t have the resources to do it.

An electrical company from Indian Head came to Fort Qu’appelle with a bucket lift, but the machine could only extend about 12 metres.