A group of firefighters from the city of Matanzas made headlines on Tuesday with a rescue that touched the hearts of Cuban social media: without a ladder or specialized equipment, they managed to bring down a kitten that had become trapped at the top of a power pole after being chased by a dog, literally climbing on top of each other to reach it.
The incident was shared by the Facebook page "The Palace of Pets", which added to a previous congratulation from a user identified as Madeleine, highlighting the work of the firefighters in Matanzas in rescuing animals.
According to the publication, the animal stayed on the pole—located in front of the old garden in San Luis—from the afternoon until 7:30 in the evening, where it had climbed to escape from a dog.
"Firefighters were called, and they arrived immediately. They contacted the electric company since they are the ones equipped for these rescues. The company's truck arrived almost at night, but the firefighters never left the site. The company representatives stated that they didn't have to climb a pole for a cat," the publication reports.
Faced with that refusal, the firefighters decided to act with what they had on hand.
"They parked the truck next to the pole, climbed on top of each other, without a ladder or any tools, and managed to bring it down," the text describes, opting not to elaborate on the attitude of the workers from the electric company.
The episode is not isolated. The firefighters in Matanzas have a history of rescuing animals in difficult conditions, such as the case of a cat trapped for three days in a tube at the Faustino Pérez Hospital in March 2023. Nationally, there is a documented pattern of similar interventions: firefighters in Mayabeque rescued a cat caught in a mesh in November 2025, and teams from Sancti Spíritus and Guantánamo have also responded to calls for distressed felines.
These actions occur within the context of chronic material deprivation. An academic study from November 2025 on the fire department of Santiago de Cuba revealed that only 28% of the personnel considered themselves to have adequate equipment, and that there was a lack of basic technologies such as thermal cameras or personal alert devices. The deplorable condition of the equipment of Cuban firefighters has been reported on numerous occasions, ranging from deteriorated hoses to broken boots.
The post concluded with a reflection that resonated with those who read it: "There are still people with heart, and those are our firefighters. They continue to demonstrate the courage and principles that, unfortunately, are being lost in this country."
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