While TV commercials and sitcom reruns might have one think differently, city firefighters don't usually respond when a favorite pet gets itself stuck up a tree.
"Usually animals that can get up there can also get back down. We don't want to risk firefighters' lives when the animal will probably come down when it's ready anyway," firefighter Terry Jameson said.But despite the general policy, dispatch couldn't resist sending fire crews to help a distraught Lorna Lawrence on Tuesday afternoon.
Lorna was in a terrible bind. Her daughter's favorite pet, "Gusy," a cockatiel, had escaped, flown some 40 feet up a large pine tree and wouldn't come back down. At the time Lorna had been on her way to pick up her daughter from Hawthorne Elementary but had become sidetracked when Gusy flew from her shoulder and up the tree.
She had been trying to talk Gusy down, but the talking bird had only responded by mimicking her calls. Now, some 50 minutes later, fire crews were there scratching their heads over the situation.
Meanwhile, still at school, Toni Marie found out the reason her mom was late.
"I just started freakin', I was so scared. I love him (Gusy) so much. I don't know what I would do without him," she said. While she waited, agonizing over the fate of her beloved pet, she tried to busy herself with homework but didn't get much done.
The bird has been in the family for four years, ever since Toni Marie's grandmother hatched him from an egg.
"He's a delight to have . . . . He's really special to my daughter," Lorna said.
Back at the scene Jameson was atop the fire department's 35-foot ladder trying to coax the bird from its lofty perch. He wasn't having any luck and was about to give up when Lorna suggested they use some bait. Jameson climbed down and went back up with the bird's cage and some of his favorite treats. The bribery worked. Gusy climbed onto the cage and was finally returned to the ground.
"That's really a rare call, kinda a one in a million," Jameson said, still pondering why the family didn't just wait for the bird to fly back down.
But the Lawrences insist they are ever grateful for the firefighter's efforts. Toni Marie promised that the next time they bring Gusy outside it will be to take him to the vet to get his wings clipped.