FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

A volunteer animal rescue unit teamed up with Hydro-Québec workers in Kirkland last week for a dramatic rescue of a young and adventurous cat named Mona, who was trapped atop a hydro pole 30 feet from the ground for seven hours under a hot sun and dangerously close to active wires.

“It was a delicate operation,” said Eric Dussault of Sauvetage Animal Rescue, a group of 29 patrollers who cover the island of Montreal and save animals in distress.

Dussault says he was patrolling in the Timberlea district at about 2 p.m. on June 3 when he got called to a house on Meaney Street about a cat that had escaped from its house and was perched on the pole since 7 a.m.

“Our team contacted Hydro-Québec, which sent a truck,” Dussault said. “With Hydro-Québec, it depends on their employees and how comfortable they are with cats, which determines how we respond. Usually, they set up a ladder and we climb up for the rescue.”

In this case, however, Hydro workers cut the power and brought in a hydraulic basket, and because Dussault and the Hydro employee could not both fit inside the basket, it was decided that after being briefed about the best way to rescue Mona, a Hydro worker got into the basket armed with a hook perch and was raised to where the cat was sitting. Moments later, while receiving instructions by Dussault, the cat was brought down to safety.

“She was dehydrated, but she was fine,” he said, adding that the cat was immediately reunited with its relieved owners.

Dussault praised the work of Hydro workers on scene, “but I also want to salute the citizen who had the good reflex to call us right away.”