Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

VIDEO: New York firefighter faces charges for using water cannon to blast cat out of tree (the cat is dead)
Not The Bee ^ | May 06, 2026 | Mister Retrops

Posted on 05/06/2026 8:56:56 PM PDT by Red Badger

Sometimes what seems like a good idea at the time doesn't quite work out the way you pictured it.

For example, when a firefighter in Spencerport, New York, was called in by a frantic owner to rescue a cat from a tree and all the usual methods like ladders drove the cat higher in the tree, he thought, "Wow, that's really high. There's got to be a better way."

So, he got some people to stand under the tree with a blanket, and then cranked up the water cannon on top of the fire truck to spray the feline out.

And it worked, sort of.

pic.twitter.com/PyTaU2KRkn— Davy Jones (@itsNTBmedia) May 6, 2026

On the video, you can see the utter disappointment on the rescuers' faces as the cat goes flying out of the tree — in the wrong direction.

The cat did not survive, and that's why the firefighter now faces charges for torturing and injuring an animal under section 353 of New York State Agriculture and Markets law. It did not die on impact, as you can see from the video.

News10NBC reports,

‘The issue was, is that there comes a time sometimes that we've done all we can. What is another option? Instead of trying to force an issue,' said Reno DiDomenico, Vice President for Humane Law Enforcement.

‘And that's one of the biggest things in this. It has to be an unjustifiable act. And that's why he was charged because of the unjustification. In other words, he didn't have to spray it with a hose. You have to use common sense and figure out the best way to help something without causing a potential injury,' DiDomenico continued.

The investigators asked for a misdemeanor charge since it's clear the firefighter was trying to help.

He'll likely face a fine, but he also lost his job with the fire department.

Maybe he should have used a laser pointer to get the cat down?


TOPICS: Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Society; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: animalcruelty; cat; newyork; schroedingerscat; spencerport

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 next last

1 posted on 05/06/2026 8:56:56 PM PDT by Red Badger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Sadly. No winners here.


2 posted on 05/06/2026 8:59:25 PM PDT by MotorCityBuck (Keep the Change You Filthy Animal !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

P.S.: Your Cat Is Dead.


3 posted on 05/06/2026 9:04:51 PM PDT by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MotorCityBuck

The cat would have come down on its own volition eventually...........


4 posted on 05/06/2026 9:05:02 PM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

When a girlfriend called the fire department seeking help because the cat was on her roof, the fireman said “Lady, have you ever seen a cat skeleton on a roof?”


5 posted on 05/06/2026 9:07:17 PM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom

Well, they got the cat out of the tree, so there’s that...........


6 posted on 05/06/2026 9:09:05 PM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

It’s a CAT! Go to the shelter and get a new one. They give them away for free. One’s like another. That’s why they are cats.


7 posted on 05/06/2026 9:09:45 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Yea. No doubt.
I have a soft spot for cats.🐱
Pets in general.


8 posted on 05/06/2026 9:10:06 PM PDT by MotorCityBuck (Keep the Change You Filthy Animal !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

My cat went on the neighbor’s roof, twice. Stayed there for two days the first time. When I went to retrieve him the second time, he just hopped onto the nearby fence. “Why didn’t you do that before?!”


9 posted on 05/06/2026 9:10:58 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom

“They give them away for free.”

Not here, they don’t! $50 fee for spaying or neutering and shots!...........


10 posted on 05/06/2026 9:12:02 PM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom
One’s like another. That’s why they are cats.

I have had eight cats, not one of them was like ANY of the others.
11 posted on 05/06/2026 9:12:46 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
Ever see a cat skeleton in a tree?

Didn't think so. ;^)

12 posted on 05/06/2026 9:13:42 PM PDT by thescourged1 (Rush, is it time to panic yet? )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Sivana

We’ve had 6 or 8 cats, too. Only one was even remotely “loving.” The kids named him “PK” for “Perfect Kitty.” He was a stray that adopted us on vacation at the lake. Best cat ever.

All the others (including the current one), “meh” at best. Our daughter watched the current one being born, so he’s always been with us. Never abused. But skittish as hell. The current one is the worst by a country mile.


13 posted on 05/06/2026 9:16:00 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

That’s hilarious.😆


14 posted on 05/06/2026 9:16:50 PM PDT by MotorCityBuck (Keep the Change You Filthy Animal !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom

God gave us pets for the times In between when people Suck.


15 posted on 05/06/2026 9:17:49 PM PDT by MotorCityBuck (Keep the Change You Filthy Animal !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

open a can of tuna


16 posted on 05/06/2026 9:17:59 PM PDT by joshua c
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Any fireman that has worked very long knows someone who deck gunned a cat out of a tree. I never have heard of it turning out good.

A deck gun will put out 1000 gallons per minute.


17 posted on 05/06/2026 9:21:38 PM PDT by Clay Moore (My pistol identifies as a cordless hole punch. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Boy, have I got a cat-in-a-tree story! Perhaps another time. (The cat’s name was Dennis.)


18 posted on 05/06/2026 9:23:33 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (The issue is never the issue. The issue is always the revolution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom

19 posted on 05/06/2026 9:24:00 PM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

It seemed like a good idea at the time.


20 posted on 05/06/2026 9:24:25 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (If it ain't fun, you ain't doin' it right.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson