This post is part of our Everyday Hero series, in which we celebrate the bravery of normal people making extraordinary choices that save lives.
Today’s Everyday Hero story is one of the most heartwarming you can imagine. I read about it back when it happened, but between this and that, haven’t had a chance to get it published until today.
Karen Frewert, an online acquaintance of mine and the star of this adventure, explains what happened…
The poster that led to Sierra’s owners. Amazingly still up after four months of winter weather!
“December 24, 2015, Suffolk County, New York. Christmas Miracles do happen!!! And I helped!!! While driving on Yaphank Road today in Middle Island, New York, I noticed a lost cat poster. Didn’t think too much about it and went on to the pet cemetery. As I was laying wreaths on my cats’ graves, I heard a meow. At first I thought I was hearing things. But then I heard it again. And again. I went near the fenced-off wooded area between the cemetery and the side of Walmart and called out. Kept calling to the unseen cat and she meowed back! I spoke with a cemetery employee and together, we were looking in the woods from a distance and he noticed a cat up in the tree. About 60 feet up!!!! On a very tiny branch that was bobbing around a lot in the wind!!! Poor kitty.
I couldn’t get over the fence so I drove around to Walmart in the back by the tire dept. I was blocked by two more fences and a row of storage containers. Another bystander called the fire department but they refused to come out. Walmart also refused to help. So it was on me to rescue this trapped and petrified kitty. I tried but couldn’t get around the fences, but then sneaked around the storage containers and found some openings that had been ripped into the fence. I crawled through to get closer to the cat. Called to her and she started to inch down the tree! She moved down slowly, and then panicked and climbed even higher!! I went into Walmart and bought some stinky cat food and water. For over 2 hours I tried unsuccessfully to entice her to come down. I didn’t want to leave, but it was getting so late I had to. Driving back down Yaphank Rd, I saw the lost cat sign again and on a whim, pulled over and called the number listed.
Home at last. Thin, but alive!
The guy that answered didn’t think I was crazy, and rushed out to meet me at the cemetery. We went through the fence and called to the cat. She meowed back but didn’t move. The guy tried to climb the tree next to hers, but fell out (‘though he didn’t get hurt). We kept calling her and she began to climb down again. Slowly, with lots of encouragement from us, the cat climbed all the way down until she was close enough to grab. We got her!!! And it was Sierra!! The cat on the poster! It was his cat!!
I drove him home because he was shaking so much, and met his family. They were shocked to see their lost kitty! She was very thin but alive!! Thank God for Christmas Miracles!!
BTW, Siera is 13 years old and had been missing since August 27th!!!”
Karen, God bless YOU for not giving up on Sierra! Your amazing heart and persistence made this incredible reunion happen. You truly are an Everyday Hero!
