A Calgary family is making a desperate plea on Friday for help after their cat climbed onto the ledge of a utility pole. Ibtsam Ahmad said his cat, Tinku, escaped the family home in northeast Calgary at about 5 or 6 a.m. on Friday. After about an hour of searching, the family found him several metres in the air on a utility pole at 15 Templebow Road N.E. near McKnight Boulevard after they heard the cat’s cries from above. Right away, Ahmad says they sprang into action to get Tinku down. “We called 311, we called Enmax, we called the fire department. We even went in person to the fire department,” Ahmad told CTV News from the scene. But most services said they could not help. Ahmad said the family called the city’s 311 line and 911 — both of which recommended the family call Enmax. Though an Enmax worker attended the scene, the worker said there was nothing they could do to get the cat down. “It is very frustrating, especially considering our tax dollars, my tax dollars, are going towards these (services) and I’m not receiving even the basic level of service,” Ahmad said. “I’m very, very disappointed in our system today.” CTV News attended the scene at about 7 p.m. on Friday. Video shows Tinku cowering on the ledge. His grey and white fur ripples in the wind, and his right front paw dangles over the side. On the ground, the family has made a makeshift hammock to hopefully catch Tinku’s fall, should the worst-case scenario occur. CFD doesn’t respond unless CPS flags the call: Fire district chief CTV News asked the Calgary Fire Department, Calgary Police Service, Enmax and municipal media line whether they had received calls about a cat stuck on a utility pole on Friday evening. The City of Calgary and Enmax did not immediately reply to requests for comment, while a duty inspector officer with the CPS said she was not aware of any calls made about a cat stuck on a pole. CFD District Chief 5 Dave Nelson, meanwhile, told CTV News he was only made aware of the situation after receiving media inquiries. Nelson further explained all animal calls made to 911 are referred to Calgary police. The police service is often “overwhelmed with calls” and will prioritize which calls to attend based on urgency. It can happen, Nelson said, that some calls don’t get answered for a long time. He said CFD would only dispatch a crew if CPS asked them to attend the scene. ‘Very scared for the night’ Ahmad said his family will remain outdoors to keep an eye on Tinku. He worries it could be a long night for his feline friend. “He’s already hungry. He’s already cold. Even I’m cold,” Ahmad said. “I’m very scared for the night.”
