Posted on 12/30/2008 9:57:06 AM PST by Fawn
PHOENIX, AZ -- Brutis the cat is back home with his owner after going through a bit of a pickle. He had been stuck in a neighbor's tree for nine days, according to the owner.
And the cat's owner says a police officer may have been partly to blame.
The cat got away from his owner, Michael, last Sunday at a home near 12th Street and Bell Road. When Michael finally tracked Brutis down, he was stuck in the branches, two stories in the air, on his neighbor's property.
The neighbor is a Phoenix police officer.
Michael had tried to get the cat out with no luck. Animal Control told him they don't handle cats due to limited resources.
On Christmas morning, the Humane Society tried to rescue Brutis but said its ladders were not tall enough to reach him.
They also suggested Michael leave food and water at the base of the tree, something Michael said he couldn't do because his police officer neighbor would not let him back on the property.
"He said he wouldn't let us go back there and try and rescue the cat," Michael said.
Michael said the officer told him he was concerned that if someone got hurt while trying to get the cat on his property, he would be liable.
"He said no because of insurance," explained Michael.
A Phoenix Police spokesperson said the officer did what he could to help the cat.
Sgt. Tommy Thompson said the officer followed the direction of the Humane Society, taking his dog inside for a day, hoping the cat would come down on it's own.
He said the Humane Society called the officer an "angel" who did all he could.
The Humane Society also told the officer they could not rescue the cat safely, according to Thompson.
However, another non-profit said on Monday they made an attempt to get Brutis out of the tree.
Toni Smith and Terry Toman are with Citizens for North Phoenix Strays.
"There's some friction here between these neighbors and I said I could care less about the people I just want to go up and get the cat," said Smith.
Smith and Toman said they chose to go behind the home on a public sidewalk and lean a 25-foot ladder against his back wall.
In this way, they figured they were not on his property.
Just as they were about to get the cat, Smith said, "This guy comes barreling out of his house, flashed his gun and his badge, and started screaming and freaking out."
Toman added, "It's a little overkill".
ABC15 tried to speak with the officer to get his side of the story, but he said to call police.
The Phoenix Police Department said their officer had a right to defend his property.
They added that there was no way the officer could have known whether Smith and Toman were intruders or not.
“It seems like I just have to sit here and watch my cat starve to death or freeze to death,” Michael said.
Both Smith and Toman said they were willing to sign a waiver guaranteeing they would not sue the officer or hold him liable if they should hurt themselves while rescuing Brutis.
“It’s just a cat in a tree, why can’t we just go there and get the cat and move on,” Smith said.
Late Tuesday morning, Michael said police officers arrived at the home and rescued the cat using a ladder. It's unclear who's property they did it from.
Sgt. Thompson said Phoenix Police don't normally rescue cats from trees, but said calls to the Police Chief's office prompted the move to get the cat down.
Brutis is now safe and doing well -- and out of the tree.
Thanks for your reply. I have 2 black cats...medium hairs also....black cats are my favorite...
That was nice that you were concerned .....the cop is a @$$.
“If it irritates you i will try to use it and anything else improperl’y to irritate you!”
Thank you—I believe that you achieved your quota with that sentence!
Have you tried talking to your neighbor(s) about their cats?
I live in a very animal friendly neighborhood. Everyone has at least one dog, most more and many have at least one cat. Unfortunately, a few just let their cats run loose. When the one had kittens, she hid them behind some bags of mulch next to my house. My two neighbors give me a hard time for not calling the pound about them.
It's not like I'm a cat hater. I like their energy and the way they move. I had a siamese and a Maine coon, but they died of old age a few years ago and I've not replaced them. Since then, I've learned to see cats and cat people from a different point of view.
If you know of a way to keep them away, I'd be very interested. I've tried many things with no success and I'm ready to go to the next level.
Is there any way to know to whom, if anyone, the cats belong? If the owner is a neighbor, I would think it’s his/her responsibility to address your concerns.
On the other hand, if the cats are feral, many cities have humane programs to eliminate the nuisance. Volunteers trap the cats, volunteer vets spay/neuter them, and the colony/nuisance fades away. Feral cats only live an average of 1-2 years, so this approach lessens the problem immediately (no more kittens), and takes care of the issue altogether relatively quickly.
I have three beloved indoor cats (and one big old dog) — I live in the city and don’t want to expose them to outdoor dangers. My neighbor has two (friendly, neutered, well-cared-for) indoor/outdoor cats. As for me, I love them, and think it’s great to have them around. However, I can see why you would be irritated in your situation. Even if I couldn’t see where you were coming from, the bottom line is that you have a right to your private property.
(As for the article, I do think the cop here was full of crap — but that’s a separate issue).
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