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Tree surgeon saves cat from 60ft tree
The RSPCA feared they would be unable to rescue Princess until the next morning, 48 hours after she had gone up there.
The RSPCA called him in after rescue officers’ attempts failed.

A tree surgeon has rescued a stranded cat after it became stuck in a 60ft high fir tree in Cambridgeshire.

Seth Masters, who owns Iceni Tree Care in Norfolk, was called in by the RSPCA after fire and rescue officers were unable to scale the conifer.

Princess the cat was found in the tree on Friday 22 December, when the rescue charity was called to save her. The rescue officers discovered Princess almost at the top of the tree, and contacted the fire and rescue service.

When the fire and rescue team arrived on the scene, they could not mount their ladders against the tree due to the height of the tree and limited access to the garden.

The RSPCA feared they would be unable to rescue Princess until the next morning, 48 hours after she had gone up there.

However Mr Masters answered the charity’s calls for help and offered his climbing skills to retrieve the feline. He carried out a rope rescue, using his tree-climbing equipment to climb the swaying fir tree and lower Princess down in a rope bag to waiting RSPCA inspector Justin Stubbs.

The RSPCA advises cat owners to give their cat time to climb down from trees themselves, or tempt them with food or smelly treats, before contacting a rescue team.

If the cat stays stuck up the tree for over 24 hours, the weather conditions are bad, or the cat is injured or young, then cat owners should contact 0300 1234 999. The RSPCA may need to contact the fire and rescue service if necessary, and fire office may use the situation for training purposes.

Owners may be asked to contact a tree surgeon if the RSPCA is unable to get someone to the cat.

RSPCA inspector Justin Stubbs said: “The RSPCA can't thank Seth enough as this was a very high and technical rescue, which without his genuine expertise the cat may have had to stay up there for at least another day.

“With it being Christmas and it being an urgent rescue, Seth said he wasn’t even going to charge the RSPCA for his work, which was a great gesture.”

Image © RSPCA

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.