Using public resources to save cat sparks debate  

浙江嘉兴消防架梯救猫引争论 专家称浪费公共资源

Jiaxing (CNS) -- The fire department in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, rescued a cat stuck on a tree by using fire engines and extension ladders, which set off a debate among the public.

On Wednesday, a user named "922 muzi" reported on her Sina Weibo that a cat has been trapped in a tree on North Yuexiu Road in Jiaxing for five days.

The user called on warm-hearted people to come to the rescue.

After noticing the post, the local fire department dispatched several firefighters to the spot, and the cat was rescued.

Yet the public remained divided on the move by the fire agent, with some applauding the effort, and others criticizing the overreaction by the department.

Even though people should value life, the move by the fire department was a waste of public resources, said Ma Liang, a professor at Zhejiang Gongshang University, on Thursday.

Ma's opinion was echoed by Fan Bo, another professor at the university. Fan pointed out that cats are not one of the rare species, and there's no need to use limited public resources to save it when it was just stuck in a tree.

When encountering the same circumstances, the public should use other measures to save it, Fan added.