A Calgary family spent Friday seeking emergency help after their cat climbed onto a utility pole ledge, leaving municipal services and utility providers unable to intervene. Ibtsam Ahmad reported that his cat, Tinku, escaped from the family home in northeast Calgary around 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026. Following an hour-long search, the family located the cat several metres in the air on a utility pole situated at 15 Templebow Road N.E. near McKnight Boulevard after hearing his cries.
Emergency Calls and Agency Responses
Immediately after locating the cat, Ahmad stated that the family took action by contacting multiple municipal and utility services. According to Ahmad, they called 311, contacted Enmax, visited the fire department in person, and dialed 911. Both the city’s 311 line and 911 recommended that the family contact Enmax.
An Enmax worker attended the scene at the utility pole in the northeast Calgary community of Temple, where Tinku sat on the lower ledge. However, the worker informed the family that there was nothing they could do to retrieve the animal. Expressing frustration over the lack of assistance relative to municipal tax contributions, Ahmad said he was deeply disappointed in the current system.
Official Protocols for Animal Rescues
Calgary Fire Department District Chief 5 Dave Nelson stated that he was only made aware of the situation after receiving media inquiries from CTV News, which attended the scene at about 7 p.m. on Friday. Nelson explained that all animal-related calls made to 911 are routed to the Calgary Police Service. Because the police service is often overwhelmed with calls, they prioritize responses based on urgency, which can result in delayed attendance for lower-priority incidents. Nelson confirmed that the fire department only dispatches a crew if requested to attend by the police service.
A duty inspection officer with the Calgary Police Service stated she was not aware of any calls made regarding a cat stuck on a pole on Friday evening. The City of Calgary and Enmax did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Family Measures and Overnight Vigil
Video footage from the scene showed Tinku cowering on the ledge with his grey and white fur rippling in the wind and his right front paw dangling over the side. To prepare for the worst-case scenario, the family constructed a makeshift hammock on the ground beneath the pole in an attempt to catch the cat should he fall.
Ahmad stated that his family planned to remain outdoors to monitor Tinku through the night, expressing concern for the cat’s safety, cold, and hunger as temperatures dropped.
Keep reading