Neighbors Band Together to Rescue Cat

By Krista Pfunder 

A man new to North Beach discovered that small town living has its perks when his neighbors joined forces to help him find—and rescue— his lost cat. 

When his beloved cat went missing, Valdimir Golubovic’s neighbors were quick to jump in and help, bringing a happy ending to the tale of a missing cat. 

Masha, a rescue cat from Belgrade, Serbia, was adopted by Golubovic at just a couple weeks old. His name means “the little one” in Russian and this little one was doubly in danger: he is diabetic and needed life-saving insulin, which Golubovic administers to him. 

“Since Masha was diagnosed with diabetes, I don’t let him go out alone. He sneaks out from time to time, but he always comes back,” Golubovic says. “So when he didn’t show up back home, I was sure something was wrong.”  

Being new to town, Golubovic wasn’t quite sure how much help he could expect from his new community. “I moved to North Beach recently so I didn’t know a lot of neighbors,” Golubovic says. “I started a Facebook campaign with Pawboost and targeted the local neighborhood. I put out fliers everywhere.” 

What happened next stunned him. 

“The response was amazing,” Golubovic says. “I got support and great advice instantly. The whole neighborhood got involved.” 

Neighbors Allan Creamer and Marjorie Marcey had been keeping a watchful eye out for the missing Masha. When they heard a cat had been spotted in a tree in town, they went to investigate. 

“Marjorie contacted Calvert County’s animal control folks, who declined to help,” Creamer says. “She then reached out to the local fire department, but they also declined to help.” 

A neighbor suggested calling Tri County Tree Service. Marcey discovered that Brad Dowell, the owner of Tri County Tree Service, is a dedicated animal lover who uses his own tree climbing equipment to rescue animals stuck in high perches. Dowell planned to come by to help as soon as he finished work for the day. 

It was an eagle-eyed Lisa Garrett, the town of North Beach’s director of eco- tourism, who figured out it was Masha. 

“While all these phone calls were being made, Lisa brought to my attention that the cat up in the tree looked a lot like the cat on the missing poster we had all seen around town,” Creamer says, who called the number on the poster. 

“I asked Vladamir if he had found his cat and he said no,” Creamer says. “He sounded resigned to the fact that his cat was gone. I told him that there was a cat up in an oak tree not far from where it was last seen. He was excited and … arrived within 15 minutes and confirmed that the cat stuck in the tree was his cat.” 

“He was 50 feet up the tallest tree in the area,” Golubovic says. “He was up there through two storms and the fourth of July fireworks.” 

Neighbor Mike Kidwell provided a ladder and a tarp. “We headed back down to the tree and found that a bird was landing on Masha and pecking at him,” Kidwell says. “He had no energy to fight it.” 

Concerned that the cat could fall if he became scared when Kidwell grabbed him, Kidwell asked the neighbors waiting anxiously below to help. “I asked everyone to hold the tarp in case Masha jumped,” Kidwell says. 

While neighbors held the outstretched tarp below, Kidwell grabbed Masha and descended. An emotional reunion soon followed.  

“Masha recovered quickly,” Golubovic says. “Other than one toe missing he is fine. I don’t let him out alone anymore. Now we take long walks late at night together. He loves to explore and is quite good on the leash.” 

Golubovic now feels like part of the neighborhood and credits the community for keeping his spirits up. 

“The support and help from everyone was amazing,” Golubovic says. “That’s what made me keep looking and not give up.”