All Out Effort
It’s been a very cold winter in the Northeast. So when one cat’s flight to Florida was canceled, she took matters into her own paws and made a dash for the next flight to the Sunshine State.
At least that’s what The Chester Chronicles believes.
Ellen Russell of Flushing, NY and her four-year-old rescue cat, Tazzie Lee, were going to fly from New York’s John F. Kennedy airport to Fort Myers on December 30, but the flight was canceled.
After retrieving her luggage, Russell left Terminal 4, when somehow her pet unzipped the carrier she was in and took off.
The reason for the cancellation was that Delta Airlines couldn’t find a pilot to fly the plane, despite it being loaded with passengers and luggage.
“If we just got on that flight, it would have never happened. Who has a plane packed full of people and luggage and comes back and says, ‘I don’t have a pilot?” Russell told the New York Post.
Determined to find her cat, Russell enlisted the help of professional cat trapper John Debacker as well as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Cameras and traps were set up at pre- and post-security areas as well as on the tarmacs throughout the 5,200-acre international airport.
Video of another cat at JFK caught on one of the cameras set up to find Tazzie Lee. Courtesy: @johnstrapscats/Instagram.
The ever-vigilant Russell goes to JFK three to four times a week, but so far, no luck, at least when it comes to spotting Tazzie Lee.
But the cameras set up to discover her cherished pet have uncovered dozens of other cats wandering about the facility.
Russell posts pictures of the other cats in the hope that if they have owners, the felines will be claimed. That hasn’t happened yet.
Now the cathunt could escalate as the Port Authority is considering deploying a search dog to find Tazzie Lee.
Russell is going further by offering a $5,000 reward and is even considering hiring high school students to post flyers in and around JFK.
Courtesy: secret_nyc/Instagram.
“This is the saddest thing in my life. I’m telling you, that’s ever happened to me,” a heartbroken Russell said.
As devastating as Tazzie Lee’s disappearance is, our cat Chester obtained information through the feline 411 network that could give Russell some hope.
“Here’s the lowdown,” our agitated pet said.
“Passengers on the canceled Delta flight said that Tazzie Lee volunteered to take the controls of the aircraft, but the cabin crew wouldn’t let her because she only had a recreational pilot license, not an airline transport pilot license.”
“Makes sense to me,” I said.
“You’re an idiot,” Chester snarled. “This cat had qualifications.”
“And those were what?” I asked.
“Our feline aviator made a strong case for her proficiencies by proudly noting she had played over 2,500 hours on Microsoft’s Flight Simulator, which included flying Boeing 737s and Airbus A319s. These are the type of jets Delta flies to Fort Myers.”
“That doesn’t sound like that qualifies as being able to fly a commercial jetliner,” I lectured.
“Have you tried to fly a plane in Flight Simulator?” Chester demanded.
“No,” I said meekly.
“Then be quiet since you have no idea what you’re talking about,” as Chester returned the favor and lectured me.
“You humans never give us cats credit for doing stuff like flying, but you have no problem naming planes after us.”
“You lost me, Chester.”
“Tomcats, Hellcats, Tigers, Cougars, Jaguars,” Chester rattled off. “You say we’re not qualified to fly the planes, but you name them after us cats.
“There must be a reason. Maybe you people are jealous that we can do something as well as you.”
“I’ve never seen a cat fly a plane,” I said.
“Of course you haven’t because you weren’t trying to,” Chester scolded me.
“What about John ‘Cats Eyes’ Cunningham?” Chester said.
“Human,” I retorted.
“Well then, there’s Mademoiselle Fifi who flew across the English Channel in 1910. And what about Felicette, who one-upped her by blasting off into outer space in 1963?”
“But they didn’t actually fly a plane or rocket,” I said. “People controlled those vehicles.”
“Then what about the millions of cats who have flown over the years?” Chester shot back.
“They were either in cat carriers or on a leash in the cabin as a support animal,” I said.
“Because you fools couldn’t stand having one of us at the controls,” Chester yelled.
“Can you get back on track and tell me what else you heard about Tazzie Lee?”
“Some of those on board lobbied for Tazzie Lee to take them to Florida, chanting ‘Let her fly!’
“A riot almost broke out after learning that it wasn’t going to happen, and several police officers were called in to help get the passengers off the plane.
“At least those people appreciated one cat’s abilities.”
“Go on,” I said.
“Needless to say, Tazzie Lee was not a happy camper.
“Witnesses said they saw the angry feline high-tail it back into the terminal building after her escape, and later sneaked onto another flight to Fort Myers.
“No video of Tazzie Lee’s boarding exists, as there was a system-wide problem with security cameras during the crucial few minutes the black and white cat allegedly made her dash.”
“How convenient. Thank you, my furry Anderson Cooper,” I said as Chester walked away in a huff.
Meanwhile, Russell is closing on a house in Fort Myers in the next few weeks. She was planning on Tazzie Lee accompanying her.
If the pet she adores did make it to Fort Myers, Russell will most likely find Tazzie Lee soaking up the rays on one of the many beaches there.
On the other hand, if the animal Russell calls “my best friend” is still running about JFK and you spot her cat, please contact her at (347) 256-4380.
The Chester Chronicles likes happy endings.
The Chester Chronicles 