HARLEM, Manhattan – Residents of Harlem are banding together to rescue a cat that has been trapped in a large tree on West 150th Street for five days. The community is increasingly worried as extreme heat approaches.
The black cat, nicknamed PL Dunbar by neighbors, can be heard crying from nearly four stories up outside the Dunbar Apartments. Efforts to rescue the cat have so far been unsuccessful.
“We had a sheet strung out underneath the tree, and we tried spraying water on it, thinking it would jump, but it just made it climb higher,” said resident Sue Hoffman. The community is now on their third can of tuna, trying to lure the cat down.
The FDNY attempted a rescue on Monday using a large ladder but were interrupted by a fire call. They returned on Tuesday, trying various tactics, including placing cat food in the tree and spraying water from different angles. Due to the tree’s location in a courtyard, an aerial ladder could not be used.
Residents continue to hope that the tuna placed in the tree will entice PL Dunbar to come down safely.
