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SANDY — A Sandy man is thanking the crew of firefighters who helped save his cat, which was stuck under a bridge.
Cliff Jones said he was walking with his cat, Tazor, along a trail through the park located near 8680 South and 550 East Saturday when Tazor bolted under the bridge that runs over a dry ditch.
“I just figured, well, he’d come out the other end,” Jones said Tuesday.
The cat, however, vanished.
Jones said he spent three hours trying to get Tazor out by himself, but he couldn’t reach him, and Tazor’s favorite treat of a can of tuna failed to work as a lure.
He called the Sandy City Fire Department.
Engineer Brandon Widdison, firefighters Adam Bishop, Stacie Jorgensen and Brad Wahlin and reserve firefighter Laura Berbert responded and worked tirelessly to free the cat.
“They tried to get a noose on him, they had a big long 2-by-4 and tried to prod him,” Jones said.
Jones said at one point, the firefighters told him they believed the cat was dead, but they had one more ace in the hole: a fire extinguisher filled with water.
“All of a sudden, he took off,” Jones said. “Ran up and started climbing this tree up here.”
Fortunately, Tazor did not require a second rescue. Jones grabbed his pet before the cat could get too far up the tree.
This is all I've got is my cat, you know. I just … I don't know what I would have done without him.
–Cliff Jones
Jones said he is grateful for the firefighters’ efforts to save Tazor.
“This is all I’ve got is my cat, you know,” Jones said. “I just … I don’t know what I would have done without him.”
Battalion Chief Chris Dawson said firefighters on average respond to an animal rescue a month, though they tend to be busier in the spring.
Dawson said firefighters have rescued dogs from pipes and other pets from storm drains.
“We really try to help out the folks in our community any way we can,” Dawson said. “It’s just an example. Firefighters really do rescue cats from trees and under bridges.”
Jones said he had never had any problems before where Tazor needed a rescue. He said he was going to watch his cat more closely.
“I’m just glad he’s all right,” Jones said.
