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ESSAYS ROOFUS TO THE RESCUE At first glance, one may not see the similarity between the American, Davy Crockett, reputedly born on a mountaintop in Tennessee, and a tabby cat born on top of a supermarket in Sunnyside, Queens. But a closer look reveals that while Davy Crockett bravely fought the frontier, this tabby cat also bravely fought the elements. Unable to climb down, for possible neurological reasons, the tabby lived on the roof for almost year surviving on the kindness of strangers who either threw food down or threw it up, depending on their location to the store. Cat lovers of Sunnyside knew the tabby, fondly known as “Roofus” by some, and “Billy Boy” by others, would probably not make it through the upcoming winter, but they didn’t know exactly what to do. After much thought and debate, and contacting all the major animal groups with no success, a surf of the net brought up the Urban Cat league site. The email asking for help with a stranded cat, brought a quick, positive response. | |||
Reminicent of Superman, “faster than speeding bullets and more powerful than locomotives”, the Urban Cat League super trappers swung into action. In a dramatic rescue, following several minor setbacks such as the search for a 15-foot ladder, the tabby was trapped and lowered safely down to the ground with ropes.
This past Saturday, neutered and ready for a new life, Roofus aka Billy Boy was returned to the area just below his birthplace – an area that before, he could only look down on. Roofus is the poster child for homeless cats, who lives will be forever changed because of the special liaison forged between Sunnyside cat lovers and the Urban Cat League. His plight and his desire to live brought us together and the result has been miraculous.
By Diane Kimbrell
© November 15. 2007