This is a video of a good Samaritan who rescued a kitty stuck between fast moving traffic; on one side a freeway and on the other a slip road. It was nerve-racking watching it because all the time I was praying that the cat would stay still and not run off into the traffic to certain death.
The circumstances of the rescue were tricky to say the least. Both cat and man were in danger from fast moving traffic. We have to praise the man, Richard Christianson. There is no question he deserves plenty of it.
However, when I watched the video I said aloud, “get on with it, stop talking to the video camera you are operating…”. At the moment he reaches the cat he should have grabbed her (but not in a frightening manner). That was a very tricky moment fraught with danger for the cat. Perhaps Richard was deliberately trying to keep the cat calm. Wouldn’t videoing the moment have interfered in the rescue?
He provides a running commentary of his rescue while filming it. I hate to say it but it does come across as self-aggrandizement and the conscious decision to make some money or grab some celebrity from a situation which he happened to stumble upon or is that assessment far too cynical? He has the right to do it, I guess.
Sure he took a risk in rescuing this ginger tabby cat but it wasn’t that big a risk. The greater risk was with the cat running off as Richard advanced towards him due to fear.
Is it fair to even think about criticizing Richard for getting the most out of his rescue? I don’t know. He did rescue a vulnerable cat in great danger. He deserves some celebrity and plenty of praise.
I don’t believe I would have videoed myself. It would have distracted me. I’d be too focused on the cat and the cars to do that and to provide a running commentary at the same time. I’d be too anxious myself. The running commentary indicates that Richard knew exactly what he was doing.
The cat had mouth injuries. It appears that they were caused by the cat trying to get through the fence as if she felt she was caged. Although I am unsure, it appears the injuries were self-inflicted due to a desperate anxiety to get out.
The cat was named “Freeway” and received veterinary care and then placed in a foster home before rehoming. A story with a good ending.
Thanks Dorothea for commenting.
I am a rescuer of 43 years my adopted parents rescue cats taught me everything I know in fact I myself is one of there rescues 13 year old kid so badly abused no one wanted me. That’s why I keep the ones labeled damaged and bring them back then fine great homes. Richard did everything right and no money is going to him it’s all going to help other animals like Freeway.
Jim, I think that it would take no one responding to you at all to make you go away.
Put yourself inside a vault and have someone drop you in the ocean.