Many thanks to our reader Nadia Adawi who sent us this report of an amazing cat rescue that took place in the Chester Avenue Dog Park at 48th and Chester last night.

A cat was stuck at the very top of a tree in the dog park for some 36 hours before a heroic rescue by Red Paw Emergency Relief Team, the Philadelphia Fire Department, and Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia. It took five attempts, because the cat kept climbing higher. The cat is now safe at ACCT.

The family that runs Manakeesh Café Bakery at 45th and Walnut are looking for their missing cat. The cat is described as a female ginger and white cat (pictured).

If you find the cat please call (215-921-2135) or bring her to Manakeesh. A free smoothie and half-dozen baklava are offered for anyone who finds her!

If you missed the cat shelter making workshop organized by Project M.E.O.W. earlier this winter, here’s another chance. This Saturday, Project M.E.O.W. and Best Friends Animal Society are hosting another workshop, from 1 – 4 p.m. at Beaumont Warehouse (5027 Beaumont Ave) in West Philadelphia. At the workshop, you can learn how to build a simple shelter out of a plastic bin for cats in your neighborhood or for your own cat. What you can bring to help: 18 or 37 gallon Rubbermaid plastic bins with lids. Check out the event flier below for more information. Please email: philadelphiacats@bestfriends.org or info@projectmeow.org with questions or call 215-913-6013.

Flier for missing dog Kara.

Our readers may remember Kara, a black Lab mix with white nose and white chest, that went missing more than two years ago from the Powelton neighborhood. Kara ran away from her home near 36th and Lancaster on December 3, 2012 and was last seen running down Spring Garden Street.

Kara’s owners continued their search for the dog for many months after he disappeared. They posted numerous flyers and ads, including one on West Philly Local.

And here’s great news: Kara was found earlier this week about five miles away in the suburbs! Kara’s owner, Ayse Gürsan-Salzmann, an archaeologist at Penn, says that her dog was sighted and picked up by volunteers at Francisvale shelter in Radnor. “He was found near the railroad tracks at Merion station,” Ayse wrote us in an email.

This is amazing, and we’re very happy that this story has a happy ending.

Kara, who originally was rescued in Turkey and brought to the U.S., looks more mature now (he’s now 3 and a half years), but his owners recognized him right away when they saw him at the shelter.

Check out this video by FOX29 News:

UPDATE 2 (1/7/2015): We received a great update from the person who rescued the dog. The dog is now being fostered by a Project MEOW volunteer in West Philly and may be adopted!

UPDATE (12/30/2014, 12:30 p.m.): The dog has been picked up and is in foster care now. She doesn’t have tags or a microchip. She has minor abrasions, but otherwise is fine (not injured as it was reported earlier).

The person who is fostering the dog told us that she will try to keep her until her owner is found. If you have any information about the dog, or would like to contact this person please check out her Craigslist posting.

Earlier: A reader found this dog this morning outside West Philadelphia High School (49th and Chestnut). The dog’s leg appeared injured and he/she couldn’t be moved.

This dog was spotted this morning at West Philly High. Appeared to have an injured leg. Not aggressive. pic.twitter.com/1tTAzOSIl0

— West Philly Local (@WestPhillyLocal) December 30, 2014

A West Philly resident, Laura, is seeking a new home for her lovely cat Billie. Due to personal circumstances, Laura can’t keep Billie.

“She’s staying with a friend now, but she can’t stay there indefinitely,” Laura wrote in an email.

Billie is about a year and a half old, very sweet and energetic. She likes playing around and cuddling in equal parts. She’s still pretty kitteny, but she is filling out nicely and has a beautiful coat and no special needs. “She can still have some spazz times where she zooms around and zips up the stairs, so she probably isn’t right for someone looking for a mellow sleepy cat (she does sleep a lot though), but she’d be just right for someone looking for a sweet and spunky kitty,” Laura writes.

Billie is fixed and up to date on her shots.

Laura can provide a litter box, a carrier, and a plethora of toys for her cat. Billie needs a long-term home, and may or may not get along with other cats. She might do well with a cat similar in age or who has not been in the house long, but probably won’t do well with a long-standing and territorial cat.

Laura can be reached at this email address: lj.brubaker[at]gmail.com