Good Samaritan Marcial Rios-Aguilar of the Bronx died during the overnight hours between Sunday night and Monday trying to save a cat stuck up a tree. See Animal Lover Dies Trying to Save Cat From Tree for details.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene to bring the cat down on Monday afternoon. The cat, who is being called Smokey, was taken to the NYC Animal Care and Control Manhattan facility, where he is available for adoption or rescue.
Thanks to the publicity surrounding the cat due to the unfortunate circumstances of Mr. Rios-Aguilar’s death, he was reportedly placed on media hold, which means he has longer than the usual brief holding period to be saved before being killed to make room for another cat at the shelter.
As far as we know, as of this writing Smokey is still waiting for someone to rescue him. Until the time he is definitively deemed SAFE, please share. Saving Smokey not only will bring a happy ending for a handsome cat, it will honor the memory of the animal lover who died trying to help him.
Smokey is being networked through NYC Urgent Cats at Facebook.You can find his photo at NYC Urgent Cats HERE.
NYC ACC
PetHarbor Listing: SMOKEY – ID#A0952341
I am an unaltered male, black tiger Domestic Shorthair mix.
The shelter staff think I am about 1 year old.
I weigh 7 pounds.
I was found in NY 10467.
I have been at the shelter since Dec 03, 2012.
Sad story but it could get even sadder if nobody wants Smokey. If he ends up getting put down it will be an even more tragic end to an already tragic story. Things happen for a reason and Smokey now needs to live and is a very special feline otherwise the man will have died in vein. I would take him myself but I have 9 already. Good luck Smokey
Please, please, please do not euthanize Smokey, as a final tribute to the man that lost his life trying to save this kitty, he should be spared indefinitely. I live in Indiana so my hands are tied but I pray you will do the right thing and not take his life.
I have forwarded this story to Best Friends Animal Society and to their branch in New York City. If anyone from NYC sees this pleas also contact Best Friends Animals Society in New York City.
There’s a special place in heaven for Mr. Rios-Aguilar and people like him.
My sincere condolences to his family. Thank God for people like him.