You’ve probably seen the trope on television or in movies: A town so quiet that when a cat gets stuck in a tree, the entire fire department rushes to the rescue. Port St. Lucie firefighter Gustavo Santa helps cats on a regular basis, but more effectively in the long-term.
“Working 24-hour shifts, it’s hard to have a dog,” Santa said. “But five years ago, I saw a headline about adopting cats for the holiday.”
Before he had time to follow up, a friend sent him the same link. “I thought, ‘That’s got to be something.’ I told them I wanted something old and ugly — like me,” he said with a chuckle. “But they’re not ugly; they’re sweet.”