This past week during several severe thunderstorms, our neighbor’s young cat, Romee, who was recently adopted from the Rowan Animal Shelter, got spooked and climbed a tall tree near his home on Canteberry Drive.

His loud cries led the owners to find him on our property stranded high in the fork of a huge tree — 60 feet in the air.

After two days, unable to talk Romee down from his perch high in the tree and fearful that he may be weak without food and water, they called us to let us know of their dilemma.

Remembering that our neighbor and good friend, the Shellhorn’s son Blaine, was a volunteer firefighter, we called and explained the situation. Blaine and his mom, Amy, showed up immediately, sized up the situation and the drama unfolded.

Blaine, a soon-to-be graduate of Salisbury High, climbed a 20-foot ladder and built his tree stand as he climbed from there to reach Romee, all while calmly soothing him and assuring him help was on the way. After securing the frightened kitten in his arms, Blaine placed him in his backpack, tied the backpack to his climbing rope and carefully lowered it into the grateful arms of the owners.

In these difficult times, we all need some good news. Blaine gave us a reason to celebrate and be thankful. Thank you, Blaine, for your heroics and for saving Romee, who has now become our most famous neighborhood cat.

— Pat Cooke

Salisbury