Lee’s rescue in Schenectady depended on residents finding someone equipped to reach her. The stray had been stranded nearly 85 feet up a tree for more than 36 hours when Justin Lajuett, a volunteer with Moore’s Tree Service, climbed up to bring her down, NEWS10 ABC reported.
The effort took coordination before it took climbing. Janice Coppola, who had been feeding Lee and providing a heated shelter in her shed, sought help through a community Facebook group. Michele Sasso contacted fire and police departments and tree services to find a rescuer; according to NEWS10, some companies were concerned about liability and others declined to help because Lee was a stray. Lajuett volunteered to do the job without charge.
A local comparison, not a trend
This was not the only documented high-up cat rescue in Schenectady. The Daily Gazette reported that a separate cat, Bae, missing since May 16, was found about 100 feet up a tree in Central Park on May 24. The cases share a city and the challenge of reaching a cat high in a tree; two examples, however, do not show how common such incidents are.
The city’s Animal Control page directs people with concerns about felines to local shelters. It does not provide a specific tree-rescue procedure on that page, so it should not be read as a description of who will respond to an animal stranded at height.
NEWS10 reported that Lajuett worked through the trees to reach Lee, secured her in a rescue bag after she moved to another section, and rappelled down more than 50 feet with her. He cautioned against attempting a similar rescue without professional training and proper equipment. The station also reported that Coppola’s daughter, Cassandra, adopted Lee because Coppola is allergic to cats. Lee has since settled in with the family’s two cats and dog; a veterinary visit was planned.
