The classic cat-stuck-in-a-tree fire department call has some bizarre variations—from a chimp in a chimney, to a kitten with its head stuck in a bongo drum—revealed a London Fire Brigade review of animal rescues published this month.
The brigade reported that animal rescues were down by more than half from last year, saving about 100,000 pounds (about $155,000), as each rescue costs about 290 pounds (about $450). London Fire Brigade Group Manager Mark Hazelton noted in the report, however, that animal rescue operations should be taken care of by animal welfare agencies instead of firefighters.
“As well as being time consuming, animal rescues cost the tax payer and I’m sure most people would prefer their money was being spent on training or fire prevention work, than cats up trees.” ... Or chimps in chimneys.
The brigade highlighted some notable animal rescues over the past few years:
1. A kitten with its head stuck in a bongo drum in Newham in October 2009
2. A chimp in a chimney in Tower Hamlets in January 2010
3. An adult hamster trapped in a disabled lift in Greenwich in April 2010
4. A kitten trapped in a reclining chair in Croydon in May 2012
So far in 2013, London’s firefighters have rescued 173 animals, including:
1. A snake on the roof of a mosque in Camden
2. A hamster trapped in a hole in Islington
3. A pigeon trapped in TV aerial in Richmond
4. A dehydrated cat in distress in Greenwich
5. A baby seagull stuck on scaffolding in Sutton
6. A bird stuck in a trampoline in Lambeth
7. An injured peacock on the roof of a house in Sutton
8. A puppy in a precarious position in Hackney
9. A dog trapped on a window ledge above a betting shop in Waltham Forest
10. A bird of prey stuck trapped on a roof
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