He took a leap of faith 😳
When a Long Island resident recently noticed a stray kitten trapped 40 feet high up in a tree, the concerned passerby reached out to local animal rescuer John Debacker for help.
Approaching the tree, Debacker heard the kitten’s desperate pleas from up above.
“I knew immediately from his meows that he needed help,” Debacker told The Dodo.
John Debacker
Ascending a ladder, Debacker balanced himself with one hand and held a tray of cat food with the other. He situated the tray in a crook of the tree and began calling to the kitten, hopeful that he might approach.
Debacker’s ladder wasn’t quite high enough to reach the kitten, and so he stretched out an arm, encouraging the cat to climb down towards him.
All of a sudden, the kitten made a leap of faith, and Debacker snatched him out of the air.
“I did not expect him to jump like that,” Debacker said.
John Debacker
Back on steady ground, Debacker felt thrilled.
“Screaming from about 40 feet high in a Hempstead tree for hours, this baby is safe!” Debacker wrote in a Facebook post.
You can watch the rescue play out in a video here:
John Debacker
The kitten traveled to Last Hope Animal Rescue, where he’s currently residing, enjoying regular meals and playtime with staff.
John Debacker
Now named Oakley, this brave little kitten is finally headed in the right direction.
