The Bellmore resident has been saving animals for 15 years. (John DeBacker)
BELLMORE, NY — From darting into highway traffic to climbing trees, animal activist and rescuer John DeBacker has been saving animals on Long Island for years.
The Long Island native grew up in Seaford and moved to Bellmore five years ago. While living in Seaford, a neighbor once needed help catching their cat. After helping trap it, DeBacker became deeply involved in animal rescue straight out of high school — most often helping cats.
"Nothing will get in the way of me and animal safety," DeBacker said. "I stop highways. I climb trees. I do every type of rescue imaginable."
The 32-year-old said that after a rescue, he most often brings the animal to a rescue, such as All About Cats, The Shabby Tabby Cat Cafe & Kitten Lounge, Hearts of Love Cat Rescue & Adoption, Last Hope Animal Rescue, and many others.
He said he's always loved animals, and has four cats of his own right now. He personally rescued each of them, including one that nearly drowned in a garbage pail a few years ago, and another that he found screaming under a deck.
Nearly every day, he runs across LI responding to as many animal emergencies as possible. He monitors various Facebook groups where residents post urgent calls for help for animals in need. He's even received alerts from other states, and although he unfortunately can't respond to every call, he still provides advice: "Word got around."
Oakley mid-catch. / Courtesy of John DeBacker"There's just not enough people out there saving them," he said. "There are too many people out there harming them – a lot of animal cruelty lately."
His most common calls involve cats stuck in trees, sewers, or along highways, including injured ones. As snow from this week's blizzard, DeBacker also rescued a goose after Good Samaritans spotted it before it could be buried in the snow.
"On a busy week, I could save 100s of animals," he said.
On how he handles seeing animals that are harmed beyond saving, he said it can be incredibly difficult, but he knows what he is doing is worth it.
"I try not to let my emotions get to me," he said. "It can get really sad at times. It can be horrible. Cats have such a rough life out there."
He added that he sometimes gets hurt in the process, enduring scratches and rabies shots. "One of my favorite quotes is, 'pain is only temporary, death is forever,' when people are impressed by how I manage to hold onto a flailing animal."
He recently saved a cat from falling off an overpass onto a highway: "It got me pretty good, and I can't feel my hand today, but he's safe at least."
There are harder days than others, especially in the winter when he said he's found hypothermic cats.
"Recently, I got involved in a situation at the Sunrise Mall where someone abandoned six cats," he said. "One of them was found frozen to death."
Although he wishes he could take in more cats in his home, he said it's more important that they are adopted by community members who can give them their full attention.
"My mindset is if I save every cat, I'd become a hoarder, and then I wouldn't be able to save other animals," DeBacker said. "I've seen hoarding houses. I don't want to be one of them."
If an animal is healthy, he brings it to a shelter or rescue. If it is sick or injured, he takes it to a local veterinarian.
DeBacker after saving an animal. / Courtesy of John DeBacker
He's been part of an organization,Long Island Cat/Kitten Solution, and took over as VP five years ago. Theorganizationhas allowed him to save more animals due to more resources and funds, rather than as an independent rescuer, as he was for many years.
He wants people to know the most important thing is to get their cats spayed and neutered – cats can reproduce very fast, and female cats can get pregnant as young as four months, and their pregnancies only last about two months.
DeBacker showcases many of his rescues on his Facebook page, including some of his more daring saves. He's had too many highway saves to count, including one where he ran across the Wantagh Parkway to rescue a possum on the median: "I waited until there was a gap and ran across."
Many times, for a highway rescue, police assist by temporarily stopping traffic. Other times, he is on his own with only one goal in mind – saving the animal.
A Long Islander was driving to work when they spotted a furball in the median of the Wantagh Parkway. Within 30 minutes, DeBacker said he was on scene.
"State police put traffic to a complete halt," he said. "I'm so thankful I was able to get the kitten, who was adopted by the person who called it in."
Recalling a rescue from about a year or two ago, he said someone in Hempstead woke up to screams from a backyard tree.
"When I got there, I tried to climb up there," he said. "The kitten jumped into my arms."
DeBacker said he doesn't see himself stopping anytime soon.
"If there's an animal in danger, people can always reach out to me via Facebook," he said. "I'll drop everything to take care of the emergency."
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