Written by Alisa Mullins
Pelusa's guardian was frantic. The little cat had darted up a tree in Patillas, Puerto Rico, after being frightened by dogs and had been trapped there for nearly a week. Because the young cat was so high up—about 35 feet—her guardian couldn't get her down on her own. The cat was clearly too scared to come down herself, so her guardian appealed to the local fire-and-rescue department for help—but nothing was happening.
Glen Venezio with Animal Concerns Puerto Rico put pressure on fire-and-rescue officials and persuaded them to act. But by the time that they finally arrived on the scene, a local 17-year-old boy who is an expert climber had scaled the tree and managed to carry Pelusa down by himself after carefully placing her in a sack.
A PETA cruelty caseworker then coordinated with another local activist to arrange for Pelusa to be taken to a veterinarian to get a checkup and, after recovering her strength, an all-important spay surgery. She's now "fixed" and back at home with her grateful guardian.
Pelusa's close call serves as a reminder of why cats are always safest indoors—and why you should never give up when an animal is in peril. You might have to make several calls before you obtain results, but don't give up!
Written by Jeff Mackey
During PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk's recent trip to work with our friends at PETA India and Animal Rahat, the Indian working-animal rescue group that PETA supports, she took part in an impromptu rescue herself (as she is—and more of us should be—regularly inclined to do). As she explains:
We were stuck in traffic. If there had been lanes, it would have been about four lanes on either side of the concrete wall on which people live—their laundry hanging on a string, their babies sitting up there, the works. The road is filled with beggar children, many from crime syndicates, just like in Slumdog Millionaire. Beside the wall, there were two children painting a baby's face with lipstick. One dangled a skinny kitten in the crook of her arm, inches from the cars. We rummaged in our toy bag, selected a stuffed tiger, leapt out of the car, and offered the swap. The children were delighted with their new toy, and we were delighted to have saved a small cat from a bad end. Safe in the car, with a lap to curl into, the kitten fell instantly asleep and, oblivious to all honking and motor noise, slept as if he'd never slept before. We named him Craig after the PETA patron who had helped make this trip possible.
We were stuck in traffic. If there had been lanes, it would have been about four lanes on either side of the concrete wall on which people live—their laundry hanging on a string, their babies sitting up there, the works. The road is filled with beggar children, many from crime syndicates, just like in Slumdog Millionaire.
Beside the wall, there were two children painting a baby's face with lipstick. One dangled a skinny kitten in the crook of her arm, inches from the cars. We rummaged in our toy bag, selected a stuffed tiger, leapt out of the car, and offered the swap. The children were delighted with their new toy, and we were delighted to have saved a small cat from a bad end.
Safe in the car, with a lap to curl into, the kitten fell instantly asleep and, oblivious to all honking and motor noise, slept as if he'd never slept before. We named him Craig after the PETA patron who had helped make this trip possible.
You'll be glad to know that Craig has been adopted and is now a cherished companion.
Every day, Animal Rahat is working to make India a kinder place for animals—especially the bullocks, donkeys, and other working animals who are commonly abused and neglected. Please help Animal Rahat by making a donation to support its lifesaving efforts.
If you have a general question for PETA and would like a response, please e-mail Info@peta.org. If you need to report cruelty to an animal, please click here. If you are reporting an animal in imminent danger and know where to find the animal and if the abuse is taking place right now, please call your local police department. If the police are unresponsive, please call PETA immediately at 757-622-7382 and press 2.
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