Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 9, 2024 ASKS | FROM PAGE 14 real damage. Q: Now, in this recent rescue, Darren said he offered you some gloves, but you said “No.” A: Yeah. I didn’t want to scare We follow Social Distancing Guidelines! him. If he was going to go after me, I would have used the gloves. But I wanted to give it a shot and see what he would do. I’ve tried using treats before. Frank Berardino MA License 31811 • 24 - Hour Service • Emergency Repairs BERARDINO Plumbing & Heating Residential & Commercial Service Gas Fitting • Drain Service 617.699.9383 Senior Citizen Discount Treats never work. Q: You go to work prepared with equipment in your rig in case you need to rescue a cat? A: Yeah, I have some gear. I have it in my office at home – some nice thick gloves – I have a cat carrier if I need it. I try not to use it. Q: In this case, was there a cat carrier involved? A: No. I was on a job site and I had to take the machine off of the job site, so I didn’t have anything with me. But they said the cat was in the tree for two days, so I came right away. Q: After you rescued the cat, you returned to the job site? A: Yeah, I went back to finish the job. Q: Over the years, about how many cats have you rescued? A: About 15. Q: Up in high places where they couldn’t get down? A: Yeah. Sometimes when I respond to a call, the cat is already down when I get there, which sucks. There was a time I drove two and a half hours and when I got there, the cat was already down. It was 11 o’clock at night. The owner didn’t even call me. My wife came with me and then we had to drive home. Q: Was this somebody you knew or a friend? A: No, I didn’t know them at all. They called everybody. It was late at night and nobody wanted to do it. Q: So, would you have charged them? A: No. Q: That was two and a half hours, though. A: Yeah, I was pretty upset. At least the cat got down. It was down on the South Shore, somewhere past Braintree. Q: When do you get called by cat owners on rescue requests? A: The owners will call after a day. They usually give it a day to see if the cat comes down. Q: Did you encounter any desperate situations? A: We got one call for a cat that was up in the tree for three days. The owners thought a hawk was going to get to it. That one was scary. The cat was up about 80 feet in a big oak tree. You could tell by looking at it that the cat hadn’t slept for three days. And it wanted me to come get it. Q: Do you get contacted by the people thanking you when you rescue their cat? A: All of the time. Q: How about this recent one? A: No. I don’t think they know I saved it. I’m sure they’re thankful, as most of the people are. Sometimes they try to pay me, but I never accept it. It feels wrong. I always say “No.” Q: You’ve been into cats for a long time? A: Yes, forever. Q: Since childhood? A: Yeah. We grew up with Great Danes and cats. We had everything. Q: Do you have any advice for people whose cats are stuck in a tree? A: Yeah. Don’t try and get it yourself; it’s very dangerous, and it doesn’t take much to get hurt. Q: What’s the motivation for you to go out and rescue a cat at personal expense? A: I don’t want to have a situation where people won’t call me because they don’t want to pay. If nobody responds to help, it’s bad news for everybody. There could be a kid who loves that cat. If one of my animals was in trouble, I’d hope that somebody would help out. I remember a cat we had, named Cuddles, that had some problems. My stepdad paid $3,000 for surgery for the cat. It only lasted six months. But I didn’t want that cat to die. I love all animals – not just cats. I’ve rescued baby raccoons and squirrels from trees I’ve cut down or worked on in Saugus. When I find baby squirrels, I usually put them in a box and the mother usually comes back to get them. Your Hometown News Delivered! EVERETT ADVOCATE MALDEN ADVOCATE REVERE ADVOCATE SAUGUS ADVOCATE One year subscription to The Advocate of your choice: $150 per paper in-town per year or $200 per paper out-of-town per year. Name_________________________________________ Address_______________________________________ City_______________ State_______ Zip ____________ CC# _______________________________ Exp. _____ Sec. code____ Advocate (City):___________________ Clip & Mail Coupon with Credit Card, Check or Money Order to: Advocate Newspapers Inc. PO Box 490407, Everett, MA 02149 Clean-Outs! We take and dispose from cellars, attics, garages, yards, etc. Call Robert at: 781-844-0472
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