Ghost of Midnight
… about neighbors, community and Front Porch Forum
Police and Fire Dept. won’t take the job? Neighbors to the rescue!
Surprised that local #VT police, fire, and animal rescue officials would not respond to her plight, Teresa turned to her Cambridge neighbors for help. From The Scribe’s Tablet…
John Dunn & Linda Collins did not hesitate to come to the rescue this evening, after reading a neighbor’s request for assistance on Front Porch Forum.
“The response was outstanding,” says Teresa Bobel Mazzarese, who had used the Forum earlier in the day to reach out for ideas and assistance. A cat had become stranded in a tree, in her backyard, at least 60 feet up.
John and Linda are experienced rock climbers. Clearly, they are kindhearted neighbors as well. They arrived on the scene around 7 pm. The rescue effort lasted until 8:30. John climbed the tree, thoughtfully calculating every stage of the climb. He then patiently allowed time for the cat to accept him once he had reached her. Meanwhile, Linda secured a pet carrier to the lead for John to hoist up when ready.
Upon returning safely to the ground, an hour and a half later, John humbly pointed out that it was simply a matter of adapting his rock climbing technique to new circumstances. Surely this was no small feat…
A moment of awe, rather than words. Teresa summed it up perfectly as the mission came to a close: “Heroes,” she concluded, “This is evidence that Front Porch Forum works. It is proof that it brings the community together.”
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Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more
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Good morning Front Porch and thank you for reposting my story.
I would like to be fair and suggest we not draw conclusions regarding the lack of action from the fire department of other local authorities. I suspect there are protocols in place that dictate their decisions.
I agree that this is troubling for those of us who are willing to risk limb and life for the smallest of creatures, but let’s remember that our local firefighters and law enforcement officials are heroes as well, and prove this every day.
Perhaps this might open a discussion to figure out a new protocol? I will reach out to them to investigate a bit further and provide my findings to the Forum. Thanks. The Scribe
Good point, Paschal’Simon. No disrespect meant to all the public safety folks out there. I’d guess it’s a simple safety issue. Which makes John and Linda’s volunteer efforts all the more impressive.
Great story! This is what “community” is all about. Thanks, FPF!
As announced in my previous comment, I did a bit of research… and it turned into a follow up article: Fire Departments & Cats – Urban Legend?
http://scribestablet.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/fire-departments-cats-an-urban-legend/
The Scribe