Toby's chimney
Jennie had rehomed a 2 year old cat called Toby. The owner called to say the cat had been up on the roof for 4 days. She had called the RSPCA on the second day. The officer came round for a look and said don't worry, the cat will get down. The Fire Brigade were called by the RSPCA on the 3rd day, but they couldn't put their ladders up due to the next door neighbour's car port at the side of the house nor at the front due to telephone lines being in the way.
Mark the hero!
Jennie went round, with Stan and Jerry, on the 4th day. Jerry put up some scaffolding and Stan a ladder on the side. The idea was that Stan would cajole the cat towards Jerry who would grab it. Toby had other ideas. He stayed hidden in the chimney. We couldn't figure out how the cat had got on the roof as it hadn't been left out. The only answer we could come up with was that Toby had climbed up the chimney! The chimney wasn't straight up but had levels inside it.
Jerry putting his ladder away
Jerry and Stan were not keen about going onto the roof as it was very steep. The owner had a number for a roofer and Jennie called him. Mark Hutt from Swift Roofing agreed to come round and was there soon after. He put up his ladder at the front of the house, across the front door, and ran up the ladder like a whippet down a hole! He waited for Toby to stick his head out of the chimney and grabbed him. He then brought him down in his coat and handed Toby to Stan who put him into a basket. Jennie and Jane took Toby straight to the vets. He was suffering from dehydration and had to stay in over night.
Stan with the scaffolding
Where the RSPCA and the Fire Brigade had failed, Mark was the hero. If you have a cat stuck on a roof, he is your man! You can find him at www.swiftroofing.com or on 07885 436 993. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mark very much for all his time and effort. He wouldn't take any money for his rescue, but Jennie insisted on giving him something for his time as she was so grateful for Toby to be rescued after 4 days on the roof.
Jacqui Duly
