DEAR EDITOR: As an animal lover and a new member of the local chapter of the SPCA, I have an interesting and heart-warming story to tell all the other animal lovers and citizens of our great community. A few months ago, I rescued a small, white kitten with blue eyes from under a big rig that was stopped at the red light at Airline Highway and Carrollwood Drive in LaPlace. I learned later that cats of that nature areusually deaf. And, sure enough, Cassie is totally deaf.She is adorable and my husband, Jim, and I love her dearly and will care for her and protect her for the rest of her life. On Thursday, Oct. 12, somehow she got out in the back yard and ran up atall, sweetgum tree and I could not coax her down. I called 9-1-1 forassistance and shortly, two young, volunteer firemen, Sam and Buddy, came with an extension lader and brought her down safely. I was very afraid because if she had run away, she would surely have been killed by a car or in some other way, because of her inability to hear, she does not know when she is in danger. I will be forever grateful to those young men who came so promptly to save my beloved Cassie. Again, thank you, LaPlace Volunteer FireDepartment. You are a bunch of great men and women. Sondra Bertrand LaPlace