Cat Stuck in Tree With No Help from Gun-Wielding Neighbor
In Phoenix, a cat owner named Michael is frustrated in not being able to get assistance in rescuing his cat Brutis, who’s been stuck in a neighbor’s tree for 8 days.
Brutis escaped from Michael a week ago last Sunday. He’s a strictly indoor cat. When Michael finally located Brutis, the cat was stuck in the branches of the tree, two stories from the ground. Michael’s been working non-stop since then to extricate Brutis. So far, he’s tried hosing the cat out with water (not recommended, btw) and tempting him with food. (Mike, Jeter Harris recommends Bumble Bee Solid White Albacore Tuna in water as the most effective cat bait.) He cannot leave food at the base of the tree, however, because it’s on the neighbor’s property.
The neighbor — a police officer — is refusing access to his property, and consequently, no one can get up the tree to help the cat down. Mike contacted Animal Control, but they said they don’t handle cats due to limited resources. The Humane Society attempted a rescue, but their ladders were too short.
You can click here to watch the video news story.
Citizens for North Phoenix Strays attempted a rescue on Monday, and were nearly shot off the property. ABC15 reported:
On Monday, Toni Smith and Terry Toman of the Citizens for North Phoenix Strays made another attempt to get Brutis out of the tree.
“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”.
We tried to speak with the officer to get his side of the story on what happened Monday afternoon and he asked us to call Police.
The Phoenix Police Department said their officer has a right to defend his property.
Michael’s afraid that as Brutis weakens, he may eventually fall out and hurt himself.
This story was reported by ABC15.com, in Phoenix, and I read the comments on the story, a couple of which made my blood run cold:
JAHOOH
“just shoot the darn thing… there are millions running the street and in the human society… no loss right?”charliedog1
2 Votes
“that is why there are rifles. . . it is a freaking cat, get a life, or get a dog. . .”Silverlegacyga
1 Vote
“its a cat who cares its eating birds in the tree it will come down when it wants… there are billions of cats missing homes go get a new one.”
What a brutal bunch of cretins!
Be safe, Brutis! We hope we’ll be able to report a happy ending to this story!
UPDATE! And here we have our happy ending! Brutis was rescued this morning by a group of police officers. Here’s the update from ABC15.com:
Late Tuesday morning, Michael said six police officers arrived at the home and rescued the cat using a ladder.
Michael said Brutis is a bit tired, scared and skinnier, but by all accounts appears okay.
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 from the tree.
Michael said he has no hard feelings for the people who own the tree the cat was stuck in, he’s just glad to have Brutis safely home.
(Thanks, Lucy, for the update!)
[PHOTO SOURCE: abc15.com]
What a creep! And he is a police officer?! Take his badge away and throw him in the same cell with Mrs. Washington and the cat-killer boyfriend. Man, that cell is filling up fast! I hope the poor kitty gets rescued soon!
I would love to know the email & phone number to the police chief in that town! I hope they get so many complaints that they HAVE to rescue the kitty themselves!
Then I hope that horrid officer is fired for pulling a stunt like this & threatening innocent people with his firearm as well as being hit with an animal cruelty charge.
This really makes my blood boil.
Well mom just found the Mayor’s address & emailed him. We are purring that Brutis is okay & is able to be rescued very soon.
Hello Skeezy, I always was tought that police officers are supposed to be your friends and servants of the people. After reading so many horrid stories about police and firemen doing so many evil things, I’m having second thoughts as what to think of these people that are paid a salary by taxpayers. I only wish Oly would have shared the address of the Mayor with the rest of us. Maybe someone could kindly post it. I’m sure a lot of readers would send an e-mail response to this. The neighbors may have differences, but in a situation like this, the police man is wrong and shouldn’t be employed by the taxpayers. He’s seems like a very dangerous man. Maybe if a child became stuck up in a tree, he’d just shoot them down. Of course, he’d probably only try to wing them. Bosco your pal.
Hi Bosco!
I’d be happy to share the email with you, I just wasn’t sure if we could post that on here.
Here is the official website that you can email from:
http://216.197.100.172/contact/index.cfm
Or if you’d rather email from your personal email it is:
mayor.gordon@phoenix.gov
Maybe if enough people let him know what we think, he may be motivated to do something to help the kitty.
the police officer is a real @#$%!!! and those “people” who said the cat’s life is worthless, maybe they’ll get stuck somewhere and i can shoot them down! hey there are 7 billion people running around, who would miss 1, right? this is insane!
Why in the world would anyone try to scare a cat out of a tree with water, especially in winter? The owner doesn’t sound too bright and the gun wielding neighbor is no hero either. If someone is willing to sign a waiver to not sue if injured, why not let them rescue the cat?
We think the police officer should be charged with animal abuse. The cat would be out of the tree and safe at home if he would only letpeople in to take care of it! What an a**hole. We are emailing that mayor right now.
Here is the email Meowm sent!
I am writing to you about the cat, Brutis, stuck in a neighbors tree in the Phoenix area. ABC15 has done a report on this cat and I have to tell you I am appalled at the cruelness of the police officer whose tree the cat is stuck in. I don’t care of him and the neighbor (who is the owner of the cat) are having a feud……it shouldn’t be taken out on the cat. And to not allow other people in to rescue the cat is just as cruel. Police officers are supposed to be kind and helpful and your police officer is not setting a good example AT ALL! I vote for a charge of animal cruelty to said police officer!
Please do the right thing and get that cat some help and deliver proper punishment to the police officer!
Got a response from the mayors iffice…here it is:
“On behalf of the Mayor, thank you for your email. The Mayor had spoken with the Police Department and the highest authority to address this situation. The cat was rescued and returned to the owner in good health.”
Let’s hope they are being truthful.
What in the world is wrong with that policeman? This whole story is just awful. And the Humane Society’s ladders were too short? It seems kind of odd that their ladders were too short so they just left the cat in the tree. Poor Brutis has been stuck in the tree for more than a week! We live in Phoenix and it has been unusually cold and rainy in the last week. We are so worried about him.
Maybe contacting the Phoenix chief of police and/or the Maricopa County sheriff’s office would help Brutis?
I went back to the article and it says that the cat has been rescued. It says the article was updated at 10:30 a.m. ……today?
Brutis was FINALLY rescued from the tree. Here is an update:
http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/story/Phoenix-officer-forbids-neighbor-to-get-cat-PD/uSDXo0vALEiuKVsvSvFUfA.cspx?rss=704
Yay! Brutis is safe! We emailed the mayor also and got the same response as Junior.
I hope Brutis stays inside from now on! And that he gets lots of treats!
My mom lives in Texas. She has a permit to carry a handgun. She has the right to defend her property and her life. She takes the responsibility of owning a handgun VERY seriously. And as such, she doesn’t take the act of defending her life and property lightly.
A handgun must only be drawn in a situation where one is threatened with bodily harm or where your home is being threatened/entered and it should be drawn with intent to fire in a life or death situation.
To read about a POLICEMAN running around waving a gun because someone wants to rescue a cat in a tree on his property makes my mom boiling MAD!
Having a badge doesn’t excuse him from acting like an @SS*&$# with his firearm. You don’t even unholster that gun in that situation, mister!!!!!
Mom feels very strongly about this issue. The police should set an example.
We are very happy that so many people called and emailed and they got Brutis out safely. I hope this officer gets disciplined for being a jerk. Police officers are supposed to be representatives of the community as well as making us safe.
We are just happy that Brutis is safe.
I emailed the mayor and raised HOLY HELL about this. I got a response that Brutis was saved. I guess sometimes the politicians do listen!!!!! Be safe Brutis!
This stupid officer should be put on suspension for his stupidity alone. God knows, his ability to tell right from wrong is obviously flawed. He’d probably like to have all the dope dealers and pimps in Phoenix over to his house for the New Year celebration. If I were the owner of the cat, I’d move out of the neighborhood as quickly as I could…it’s obviously gone to *ell.
This makes me sick! How dare an officer, who is supposed to serve and protect be so cruel as to take his anger out on a poor innocent cat. I saw this story on the news here in Michigan this morning and have been fuming all day.
I would be darn if he stopped me or my husband if that was my cat. He would have to shot me or arrest me to stop me from saving my cat. It would take a tank to stop my Husband from saving our cat.
I can only hope the bad press on the police department will force some type of action to be taken and save that poor cat.
This is yet another example of why I like animals more then most humans.
If it were my cat and he took out that gun, he’d have to use it. I’d get my cat out, period. It’s truly puzzling that we arm such dunces. The police force is the refuge of the destitute. When you can’t do anything else, take the civil service exam. This requires perhaps an eighth grade education. Appropriate, since most of these block heads are of a 14 year old, testosterone driven, bully mentality.
Here’s the real story – The “rescuers” did not TELL the homeowner (police officer) that they were putting a ladder over his fence…they just did it. If I were a police officer and saw somone on a ladder in my back yard I would have drawn my gun also.
Biscuit’s mom:
Renee, then that’s a very different matter indeed. Of course, trespassing onto property and entering a home are a bit different, and it becomes a matter of judgement as far as use of a firearm to protect the land that extends beyond the house. The law varies and there are grey areas (which a cop should know).
(If no-trespassing signs were posted, for instance.)
well gee wiz … datt’zza long time to be up a tree … i gess dere wuzzen’t a roof to walk on to fer da poor guy. hey … he lookz a little like dat kitten joba.
duhr.
dat police officer shood be ashamed uv hizself.
dat’z it.
jh
Thank goodness he’s safe now.
I have a lot of respect for those who willingly put their lives on the line everytime they put on their badge. It just really saddened me to see this particular officer behaving in such a way.
Then reading the police’s side of the story it’s hard to know who to believe. I’m just very thankful the kitty is down & is safe now after that ordeal. Perhaps Phoenix will respond better to calls about cats now that they know they will get put on the spot.
I think the meowster should buy himzelf an Italian Parachute so if he gets up high he can jump out safely.
I honestly believe that both parties are at fault in this situation. Communication on both sides would have solved this situation a lot faster.
I do have a problem with people condemning the whole police department because of one Officer. Everyday they go to work and risk their own lives to protect and service the community……it is amazing how we forget!
And just maybe…next time before jumping to conclusions one should get both sides of the story.
Thank you for the update Lucy! I am so glad to hear the cat is back home where he belongs. WooooooooHooooooooo for the police department coming together to save him!
We did a story on the cat. It seems the cop would let he Humane Society in his yard, but they only had an 8-foot ladder. He wouldn’t let another group that had a taller ladder.
http://www.peoplepets.com/news/pets-in-the-news/cat-rescued-after-spending-8-days-in-tree/1
I’m from New York and I heard about this on the news a few days ago and I wondered what happened. I’m really happy to hear the cat is safe. I have 4 kitties at home and I would be really upset if this happened to one of them.
Those comments about just shooting the cat are sickening. It angers me to no end that people think of cats as these pests that need to be shot and poisoned.
I’m glad Brutis is fine, but that cop needs to be disciplined. Just because you have a gun and a badge doesn’t mean you can be a jerk. If that were a regular citizen they’d have been arrested for animal cruelty.
And excuse me, the Phoenix Animal Control doesn’t have resources to help cats? Gee, then why do I see them on Animal Planet “Animal Rescue”? So am I safe to assume that’s just them pretending to care just to beef up some publicity? That’s even more disgusting.
Glad Brutis is safe. Maybe he won’t go outside again!
It puzzles us that the Phoenix Animal Control can’t get a ladder that is tall enough to help in these situations! Maybe concerned citizens could pool their money & buy AC a very tall ladder (cause it’s probably “too expensive” fur their budget). Ridiculous! What’s the point of AC if they don’t have the proper resources??
This is why Mew doesn’t read these stories furry often. They’re so hard to take. The officer had no right to discharge his weapon so recklessly. Defense of property or not, it don’t say much fur the officer in question. Mew supports the police as much as any kitty. But when an officer shows abuse of power, that loses Mew’s respect. I’m just glad the kitty is safe. Mew suppose mew could say well at least he never though to shoot the kitty, but he had no qualms about firing at the very citizens he’s sworn to protect.