‘Skipper’ sittin’ pretty after stranded cat is rescued from East River barge

Heroes: Christine Berk (L) and unidentified officer from city ACC with Skipper| Photo courtesy Christine Berk

A stranded cat was plucked from an East River barge Sunday, capping a two-day rescue by a group of animal lovers.

The oil-stained kitty, first spotted on the construction barge Friday, was found by a five-member search party, who shimmied across a floating plank and scaled a ladder.

“We really risked our lives for this cat,” said animal rights activist Christine Berk.

The seafaring feline was dubbed “Skipper” after being taken from the barge under the Manhattan side of the Williamsburg Bridge.

Choltilde Testa of the East Village, who first spotted the cat while on a bike ride, said she and boyfriend Robert Walker called 311, the FDNY and the NYPD, but could not get an immediate response. They returned Saturday and tried to use a ladder as a bridge from the shore to the barge but it was too precarious.

Testa pleaded for help on a website, and Berk and Joseph Newman, who owns an animal rescue farm in Pennsylvania, helped.

Joined by an Animal Care & Control officer, they boarded the barge and spent about five hours searching before cornering the cat.

“It was pretty rad,” Berk said.

The cat was taken to a shelter Sunday night, but Testa hopes to adopt him. “I rescued the cat,” Testa said.


 

Related Action: please click on and sign Expose Animal Abusers Petition Now!

Vodpod videos no longer available.

See More:

• Companion Video Library
• Companion Alerts
• Animal Wrongs
• Compassion
• Cruelty-Free