Maurice German is a kindhearted Verizon employee from Pennsylvania. One day, German was fixing a telephone pole in Port Richmond, Pennsylvania. Suddenly, a woman named Amanda Fairchild Boyce ran up to German and asked for help saving her neighbor’s cat, Momma.
Boyce explained that the cat had been stuck on top of a telephone pole for twelve hours. The cat’s owners were completely distraught. The owners had called the SPCA, PECO, and their local fire department, but nobody had come to save Momma.
German was touched by the owner’s story, and he decided to save the cat himself.
German drove over to the telephone pole where Momma was stuck. Then, he carefully went up to the top of the pole. Once he got there, he picked up Momma. The scared cat gratefully climbed into German’s arms.
German and the cat went back to the ground, and Momma and her owners were reunited. Boyce and the cat’s owners were was grateful to German for his help. Boyce took a video of German while he was rescuing her cat, and it quickly went viral.
“‘Momma’ the cat is rescued in Port Richmond after a long ordeal. See how the community came together to get it done on #CBS3 at 11,” CBS Philly reporter Steve Lindsey wrote on Twitter.
“Momma” the cat is rescued in Port Richmond after a long ordeal. See how the community came together to get it done on #CBS3 at 11. (📹= Amanda Boyce) pic.twitter.com/N2hlGoQGNC
— Steve Lindsay (@SteveLindsayCBS) March 17, 2019
After the video went viral, many people called German a hero, but Verizon wasn’t happy with German’s action. The company decided to suspend German for three weeks. They said that he violated Verizon’s safety protocols.
“Unfortunately, while this employee’s goal was admirable, he potentially put his life and those around him in jeopardy,” Verizon spokesperson Rich Young told CBS. “While our actions may not be popular, it’s in the best interest of our employees and the communities we serve.”
Port Richmond residents were outraged by Verizon’s actions. They didn’t understand why Boyce was being punished for doing something heroic and selfless.
“Last weekend a Verizon employee came to the rescue of a cat outside of my home stuck on top of the telephone phone. This generous man is now at risk of losing his job!” Boyce wrote on Facebook. “Spread the word! This simple gesture can show the company that we support this man and his generosity.”
Boyce also started a GoFundMe page for German to help make up for his lost wages. The page quickly reached its goal—everyone in Port Richmond wanted to help German out.
When German learned about a poor cat stuck on top of a pole, he didn’t hesitate to do the right thing, even when he knew it might get him into trouble. German is a true hero!
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