Man suspended from his job for saving a cat, stirs an online sympathy blaze

Animal Control usually reaps rewards for its many brave pet rescue stories. But not Maurice German, who was suspended without pay from his company, Verizon.

The reason for his suspension – he saved a cat which was stuck atop a telephone pole for twelve hours using the wrong equipment, in Port Richmond, Philadelphia.

On Wednesday, the cat’s owner had called the fired department, Animal Control, and the telephone company, but it was futile. Maurice German, who was working nearby, had responded to the request by the owner to help the cat named ‘Princess Momma’. He had used Verizon’s ‘bucket’ truck’s hydraulic lift to rescue ‘Princess Momma’ to get her down the pole, which was later stated by Verizon as a safety violation – resulting in German’s suspension.

Speaking to CBS Money Watch, a Verizon spokesperson said, “For safety reasons, our trucks and related equipment are not intended to be used in the area in which he was operating, specifically around electrical wires. While our actions may not be popular, he potentially put his life and those around him in jeopardy.”

His suspension triggered a tirade on Twitter which hailed him as a ‘hero’ saying:

Eager to help, netizens have started a GoFundMe campaign to financially help the out-of-work Maurice German. This campaign has already raised over $7000 dollars, exceeding the targeted goal of $4650. Adding to the goodwill, an online petition has been circulating the web urging Verizon to reinstate German in his job capacity. It has garnered more than 10,000 signatures as of Sunday

Maurice German has also been awarded a PETA award called ‘Hero to animals award’ on Friday.