Starbuck's Second Rescue

Starbuck is not a mischievous or troublesome kitty, but this is the second time that those neighboring dogs startled and scared her up a tree.  The first time was eight months ago when they scared her up the next-door neighbor's live oak tree.  Now it has happened again, but this time she escaped to the sweet gum tree just a few feet away.  Starbuck climbed up about 40 feet where she found a sizable junction to rest, but she still didn't know how to come down and was stuck there.  Keenan discovered her there when he returned home from work that evening and called me.  Since I could not go that evening, I arranged to be there first thing in the morning.

When I arrived, I met Malory and she pointed to Starbuck in the next-door neighbor's back yard.  Fortunately, the next door neighbors are an extremely gracious and welcoming couple who happily allowed us in their backyard.  It is such a relief to me when the neighbors are so understanding and cooperative, because, otherwise, the rescue would not even be possible.


Starbuck was crying to us below, and I remembered how I misinterpreted her cry at the first rescue.  When her cry became intense at that first rescue, I thought she was getting scared of me, and I was expecting her to move as far away from me as possible.  But, as it turned out, she was just getting impatient and couldn't wait for me to get up there to help her.  She turned out to be cooperative and happy to see me.  I was hoping for the same response this time.


I set my rope about 10 feet above her and began climbing up to her.  She peered over the branch down to me and continued to cry.  She appeared to remain comfortable as I climbed closer and closer to her.  Once I was close enough, I reached out to her, and she let me pet her.  Yes, this sweet little calico girl was happy to see me and ready to go down.  At her first rescue, she walked into the carrier without any food inside, so I wanted to try that again.  I visited with her just a minute and then held the open carrier up to her.  With no hesitation, she poked her head and front paws inside but then backed out and rubbed her face over the front of the carrier.  I petted her some more to reassure her, and, again, she poked her head inside and then backed out.  I reassured her some more, and this time she slowly walked all the way inside the carrier.  I closed the door and brought her down.  Another easy rescue for Starbuck.


I brought her down and gave her to Malory, who took her home and released her inside.  The neighbors were very pleased that it all worked out so well, and they helped me carry my gear back to my truck.  The next morning, Malory sent these pictures and reported that Starbuck was doing just fine and back to her usual self.