THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 9, 2024 Page 3 ~ The Advocate Asks ~ Local tree care company owner Dante Hibbard talks about the free service he performs to rescue cats from trees Editor’s Note: For this week’s interview, we sat down with Dante Hibbard, president of ASAP Tree Care, Inc., of Saugus, to talk about his latest rescue of a cat from a tree – a service he periodically performs at no cost. Hibbard, 39, grew up in Revere and is a 2003 graduate of Revere High School. He served for four years in the Army National Guard. His wife, Jessica, is a Saugus native who graduated from Saugus High School in 2006. They moved to Saugus about seven years ago. Their 13-year-old daughter Ayla is a sixth-grader at the Saugus Middle School. Last week (Wednesday, Jan. 31), the town’s Animal Control Officer, Darren McCullough, said he got a call from Warren Road residents about a cat stuck up in a tree. He requested help from the Fire Department and Department of Public Works to get the cat down. But they couldn’t reach the location with their equipment. The next day, Hibbard responded with his Spider Lift and was able to rescue the cat. McCullough went doorto-door to locate the cat’s owner, and the cat was reunited with its family on nearby Greenwood Avenue. Highlights from this week’s interview follow. Q: I hear you are a pretty big cat lover, and that’s why you go rescuing them out of trees. And you never charge people for your expenses. A: Yep. I’m a big cat lover, actually a big animal lover. Q: How many cats do you own? A: Two: Rose, a hairless Sphynx 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday A STRANDED CAT’S BEST FRIEND: Dante Hibbard, president of ASAP Tree Care, Inc., of Saugus, talked about the soft spot in his heart for cats during an interview this week. He responds to calls for helping cats stuck up in trees, but never charges for his services. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) cat, and Raymond, an American short-haired cat. He was in an auto parts place when I found him. He had a bunch of problems. It cost about $1,600 to deal with his problems. He’s a great cat and he loves to sleep on my wife’s head. Q: Please tell me about the cat rescue last Thursday (Feb. 1). How did that go down? A: I got a call from my stepmom saying there was a cat in a tree and she asked me to come help. And I said, “Sure, I’ll come in a little bit.” And then she sent me a video of it, and I guess it was up there for two days, screaming, so I just took the equipment from my work site and went over to get it. Q: I understand that the Fire ASKS | SEE PAGE 10 Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $9.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Adult Night 18+ Only Private Parties Private Parties 4-7 p.m. $9.00 12-9 p.m. 7:30-11 p.m. $10. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM $9.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net SCENE OF THE RESCUE: Dante set up his Spider Lift to get to a cat stuck in a tree for more than 30 hours in the area of Warren Road and Greenwood Avenue. (Courtesy photo by Jeannie Meredith to The Saugus Advocate)
4 Publizr Home