A cat was rescued from the bridge wall of the Thomas J. McCall Memorial Bridge in Weissport on Tuesday afternoon.

Kimmy Mulik of Carbon County Friends of Animals was notified in the afternoon and contacted a local fire chief, who reached out to the Lehighton fire department.

“Apparently it was in that position since 8 a.m.,” Mulik said, adding that she went to the bridge and was able to locate the feline so she knew where to point fire crews when they arrived.

Lehighton Fire Chief Pat Mriss said firefighters were dispatched at 3:30 p.m. for the special assignment in Weissport Borough.

“We dispatched our ladder truck and personnel to the area,” Mriss said. “At that point, we had two different game plans in case one wouldn’t work.”

Fortunately, Mriss said, the ladder truck was able to reach the cat.

“Personnel ascended the ladder, the cat was friendly, and we were able to easily rescue the cat from the bridge,” he said. “The cat was fine; just seemed a little scared.”

Mulik noted that the group also held a large tarp under the bridge in case the cat would jump or fall before it was rescued.

Firefighter Jeff Ebbert was able to reach the cat before it was transported to Carbon County Friends of Animals.

Mriss said the rescue itself only took about 15 minutes, and noted the cat was moving across the bridge.

“Fortunately, it was at a place where we could reach it with the ladder truck,” he said. “The second option would have been to go through the fence. (The ladder truck) was the most cost effective.”

He said there was a technician from the Lehighton Animal Hospital on scene who was assessing the cat before its rescue.

Mriss said Franklin Township Police Department and Lehighton fire police also assisted at the scene and the rescue went “pretty smooth.”

Mulik thanked the fire company and residents for their help in this rescue.

“We are very grateful and thankful that there are still people who truly care about animals,” she said. “These situations occur when pet owners allow their animals to roam freely and unfortunately it oftentimes results in the demise of the animal.

“Thankfully this had a good ending.”

Mulik said if someone is missing a cat in the Lehighton area, they can call CCFOA. The owner will need to provide a description of the feline, as well as proof of ownership.