"Mamm" - Needed a Hook to Get Close

Executive Summary

My friend/fellow rescuer Randall Kolb from Baton Rouge was contacted about two MS rescues, one in Natchez and one in Wiggins (below Hattiesburg). He generally handles these areas of Mississippi as he is closer than I am, but he could not do both. I told him I would do the Wiggins rescue, for a kitty that had been stuck for 6 days. When I arrived, I was met by Missy, Mamm's person. Mamm has been chased up the tree by a neighbor's dog and all rescue attempts had failed. Mamm was 45 feet up in a young oak tree, at the very end of a stem that angled upwards at a 45 degree angle from the main trunk starting at 20 feet, and flattened out at 40/45 feet. I put my tie-in at about 50 feet, and climbed to about even with Mamm. I used an extensible pole to put a climbing hook at the last available union on Mamm's stem, and pulled myself to where I could just reach the hook - it was hard to get closer. Mamm was still 5 feet away from this point, and swayed in the breeze, sitting in some small limbs. I tried sweet talking but she ignored me. I finally tried wet cat food at the end of the extendable pole, and this got her attention. She slowly started coming towards me. Mamm reached the hook, had second thoughts, and started to back up. I figured this was my last chance at a hand grab, so I blocked her way back using the extendable pole, and made a wild grab for her. I grabbed some belly fur with one hand, dragger her closer, and was able to get her scruff with the other hand. Whew! Into the bag she went, I was lucky that she did not go berserk mode on me. Back on the ground, Mamm went inside for food and water with Missy. Hopefully Mamm will not get chased again!