Paws-itively Stuck: Bellaire Firefighters Free Confined Feline

Last week, the Bellaire Fire Department answered an unexpected call: Bellaire resident Don Baronitis asked if they could assist in a cat rescue. One of Anne and Don Baronitis’ cats, sweet little Rogi, had fallen from the attic and into the wall – nearly 14 feet. She was stuck inside a large column, inaccessible from both inside and outside. 

Firefighter/Paramedic Adrianna Harford gently helped Rogi the cat out of the wall after using an air chisel to create a hole for her to climb through. (Courtesy of Bellaire Fire Department)

Don suspected something was wrong when he called for their cats and only one appeared. “Usually, this cat, Rogi, will be at the top of the stairs, kinda like it's Pride Rock.” Then he noticed the attic door was open: “We have a walk-in attic. I'm like, oh, no. Because there's so many places they could hide. So I go up there, turn the light on, and call for Rogi, and I hear this Mrow. It’s pretty faint. And I thought, Okay. You're in here somewhere. Well, unfortunately, it was in the worst spot possible – way in the back, I had to crawl back to look, and our backyard porch has a 14-foot column in the corner that wasn't covered, and she was down on the bottom.” 

Bellaire Fire Chief Deacon Tittel remarked that this situation “is a lot more common than you think,” and went on to say, “I personally assisted with rescuing a cat that was stuck in a chimney, and another incident where a cat was stuck in a void space in a wall. When attic doors are open, it provides an opportunity for family pets to explore and accidently fall into these hard-to-reach areas of the house.” The most common call, Tittel says, is actually for cats stuck in storm drains.

Rogi stuck her head out of the wall as soon as she could. (Courtesy of Bellaire Fire Department)

Don called the Bellaire Fire Department – “I said, I'll take a chance because I see this on TV, the fire department rescues cats.” Just a few minutes later, the trucks pulled up. The firefighters decided the only way to rescue Rogi was to use an air tank and air chisel to blast through the wall. 

Meanwhile, Anne was out with a group of women working on a charity project when her neighbor across the street [Stacy Sedaris] sent a text. “And [Stacy] says, Are you guys okay? I'm like, Well, I'm fine. Why? I'm not home. She says: Well, there are 2 fire trucks in front of your house. Oh my gosh. So, of course, I called Don … My fear is that either my house is on fire or something has happened to Don.”

But all was well back at the house, as Don remarked, “The fire department – I have nothing but glorious words.” He explained: “They were very careful. They [made] a hole, and it just wasn't quite big enough. They had to expand it, so they put a towel over her head.” Anne remarked, “They were so sweet to the cat,” gently holding and petting her as they worked to get her out of the wall.

Although Rogi was scared by the loud noises, she was retrieved uninjured, safe and sound, thanks to the Bellaire Fire Department. Fire Chief Tittle noted, “We are incredibly proud of our firefighters and paramedics … Their quick thinking and problem-solving skills turned a very stressful situation into a happy ending for both the cat and the homeowner.”

Cats Rogi and Cavi are one-year-old sisters from the same litter. The name Rogi (left) is short for Pierogie; Cavi (right) is short for Cavatelli.

The Baronitis’ two cats, sisters Rogi and Cavi, are happy to be reunited. They were both rescued from the same litter about a year ago. Rogi is short for Pierogi, in honor of Don’s Eastern European heritage. “Cavi” is short for Cavatelli, in honor of Anne’s Italian descent. Of the two cats, Anne and Don say Rogi is “a little bit more chill” than her sister Cavi. “Little fluffier, little heavier, but always the first one to run to the food… Perhaps that's why the first hole the fire department did wasn't big enough.”