Heroic Efforts Save Cat Stuck Up a Tree in La Grange

For at least 48 hours last week Melinda Dunk’s cat Marsha was trapped in the top of a massive cedar tree near at their neighbors’ house (appropriately those neighbors are the Branch family) east of La Grange.

Melinda and her husband Ralph tried to coax the cat down with treats and encouragement – but no luck.

The fire department came by Wednesday night but their ladder wasn’t long enough.

Melinda said she spent an hour at the base of the tree trying to talk Marsha down.

But Friday morning Marsha was finally rescued by Jimmy Dwigans and his son Brandon of CTL Tree Service. They had actually been there the day before but couldn’t locate the cat. Using one of their large bucket trucks, Brandon went up to the top of the tree and grabbed Marsha, who seemed happy to leave the tree.

Jimmy estimated the tree may have been 70 feet tall.

“Poor thing. She didn’t try to claw or anything,” said Jimmy. “She was glad to get out of there.”

“They are my heroes,” Melinda said.

Jimmy said this was the second such cat rescue he’s done.

“We had one in Schulenburg a few years ago,” he said.

Marsha is back on the ground and doing well. She’s a nine-month old calico and is a rescue cat from the Gardenia Janssen Animal Shelter in La Grange, where Melinda is a volunteer.

Marsha the cat had come to the shelter with her five siblings. They were all named after the Brady Bunch kids.

“I just hope Marsha has learned her lesson,” Melinda said.