 by Mary Kauffman April 05, 2003
 Photo by Mary Kauffman Seeing the cat struggling, a four-foot fence proved to be no barrier as Derek Dupea, Anthony Wood, Nick Chatham and Schuyler Roskam leaped over the fence to dash to the cat's rescue. With their presence the cat must have felt reassured and comforted that help was near while one young man ran to the front door to let the owners know of the crisis at hand. Racing out the owners, Dick and Mary Kauffman, found their cat Gina tangled very tightly in 'chicken wire' which was securely fixed around her head and neck as she had flipped and spun around desperately struggling to free herself. As the wire held steadfastly over her head, nose, and mouth breathing was increasingly more difficult as the wire formed a tightening noose around her neck. Cool as cucumbers, the young men went to work doing what they could to assist. While some spoke softly comforting the cat, one young man slowly and carefully using wire cutters clipped the wire with steady hands while the owner & this writer held the cat. With the group's determined efforts, Gina was freed from what would have been her death trap. Putting the story together from what was observed by the young men, it appears that the crisis began when Gina while chasing a squirrel racing towards its hole ran head first into the chicken wire fence. The battle to free herself resulted in the wire - which had capped over her head - quickly forming a tight noose. In appreciation, the owners presented the young men 'Hero Awards' of twenty-five dollars each for their kind deed of coming to Gina's rescue and extended their grateful appreciation to Derek, Anthony, Nick and Schuyler for saving the life of this very fortunate cat. Within a short period after being freed, Gina was again purring and relaxing in her favorite condo - not a visible scratch to be seen. Thanks to these fine young men and purr-fect heroes - Derek Dupea, Anthony Wood, Nick Chatham, and Schuyler Roskam - what could have been a tragic story came to a very happy ending.
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