"Animals are mascots they become part of your life part of your family, I can't let her die up there," said Middalia Rios, cat owner.
If you've ever doubted the bond between pets and their owners, look no further than Middalia Rios.
As she stood on the corner at 133rd Street in Harlem, her eyes filled with tears.
"It's disturbing to hear something you care for in pain or agony," Rios said.
She's reached a breaking point.
"She's right there!" Rios said.
It's all because her cat is stuck in a tree, and so far no one has been willing to help get the feline down.
But this is no ordinary tree.
It's at least six stories high and the cat is near the top.
"She keeps climbing up, she's scared," Rios said.
The cat is just hanging there clinging to a tree limb.
The amazing thing is, Jasmine the cat, is holding on for dear life. She's been doing that for days.
"My cat has been up a tree for four days now, since Monday morning," Rios said.
"Every organization that's supposed to rescue animals, and no one has come to my rescue," Rios said.
She when she called 911 she was threatened with arrest.
She also called the fire department and didn't get a response.
She's reluctant to ask for help again.
"Do you want to ask these police officers? Watch," Eyewitness News said.
Finally, there was a sympathetic ear.
"Sir, my cat has been up a tree for three days, I'm trying to get assistance to get her down," Rios said.
The police officers assessed the situation and then tried to come up with a plan.
It's harder than you think.
"Yes, she does hear me and she responds, she does look," Rios said.
The crowd grows and so does the number of police officers responding to the scene, until the decision is made to bring in the only piece of equipment that might be able to save this cat.
An FDNY ladder truck was backed onto a walkway.
Firefighters had to move a fence to clear enough space, and then they lifted the bucket into the trees.
"I thought I was going to have to pick her up and bury her," Rios said.
Finally they had her and Jasmine the cat is safe.
"You got to close your windows," an officer said.
"Sir, it won't happen again. I promise you," Rios said, "It was amazing, remarkable, thank you, I owe the city a debt of gratitude."
