LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Orinda Tree Service to the Rescue


Lance Cowles rescues 9-month-old kitten, Bombay. Photo provided

Mary Jo and Lance Cowles of Blue Pines Tree Service in Orinda came to the rescue March 9 after "Bombay," a 9-month-old Moraga kitten/cat had been stranded in a tree for three days. Lance Cowles climbed over 25 feet into a very tall evergreen, using a harness, to coax and carry the cat to safety.

"Everyone said that 'cats will come down when they're good and hungry' and 'you never see cat skeletons in trees,' but online research indicated that cats which go without water for more than three days risk severe renal failure, and are not likely to fully recover," said owner Laura Shields Bronte. Bombay was clearly in distress and wanted to come down. Her cries were loud and very upsetting to her owners and concerned neighbors who tried everything to coax her down including putting up a platform that she would hopefully jump to.

"When I was facing the clear prospect of a fourth day with her up in the tree, my neighbors suggested calling Blue Pines Tree Service who they had located through a local cat rescue organization," said Shields Bronte. "My daughters (ages 8 and 10) and I adopted female litter-mates 'Bombay' and 'Frisky' from Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation last summer. We are so happy and grateful to our heroes!"