A new nonprofit in Modesto is offering a free service to rescue cats and other small animals stuck in trees. Volunteer Animal Retrieval Specialists (VARS) was founded in July by tree climber Dauki Willburn and his girlfriend, Jessica McGlothin.
“All I’d ever known growing up is if a cat’s stuck up in a tree, you call the fire department,” Willburn said. “If I can take some of the weight off of them and make it to where they have more time to allocate to what they’re best at … that looks like a win-win for the entire community.”
Willburn grew up on the Round Valley Indian Tribes Reservation in Covelo before moving with his family first to Oregon and then to Turlock. He started working for a telecommunications company climbing poles and has spent about ten years working with trees in the Modesto area. In addition to leading VARS, he owns Dauki Willburn’s Tree Service.
“I was climbing trees even as a kid on the reservation, with no gear or anything like that, just because that’s what we did for fun,” Willburn said.
His first experience rescuing a cat from a tree came in 2019 while working with another tree service. Since then, he has performed about 130 rescues, including six since founding VARS.
“I risked myself a lot on that first rescue because I was untrained and just overly confident to rescue the cat,” Willburn said. “It got my feet in the water and made me realize that it was a mode of giving back that I’d never thought about but could never turn away from.”
Willburn explained that VARS began both out of an obvious need and encouragement from McGlothin. After seeing many social media posts about cats stranded for days, he realized there was an opportunity to help more effectively with additional support.
The organization received tax-exempt status from the IRS one month after applying. This allows donations to go further by eliminating taxes on contributions. Willburn hopes this will help cover insurance costs so property owners feel secure when rescues are performed.
“Even now, it’s nice because we’re able to fill out release-of-liability waivers and make it to where everyone knows exactly what’s happening and it’s not just some guy showing up with this tree-climbing gear and everyone praying that it’s going to go OK,” he said.
Donations have already covered fuel expenses for the next eleven rescues. VARS provides its services within 100 miles of Modesto at no charge.
To fund ongoing operations such as fuel, equipment replacement, compliance costs, and outreach efforts, VARS accepts donations through GoFundMe, Venmo (@VARSModesto), and its website at varsca.com.
A former coworker described Willburn as a “cat whisperer” who is highly effective at animal rescues. “I just give them the time of day,” Willburn said. “I talk to them like they can really hear me or understand me, if you will.”
He reviews video footage from each rescue to improve his techniques over time.
Currently, Willburn is VARS’ only climber. The team also includes co-founder McGlothin as secretary and Joseph Pecora as treasurer; Pecora lives in New York.
“We needed someone third and impartial that was used to telling me no,” Willburn said. “We’ve got a little overhead with our virtual office (at 931 10th St., Post Mailbox 234) and no set donations coming in … so he keeps us level.”
The group’s first volunteer created their website where people can request assistance or learn more about safe retrieval procedures. Requests can also be submitted via email at Info@varsca.com or by phone at 302-827-7669.
Willburn emphasized that helping animals means more than any payment: “I’m free,” Willburn said. “No one can pay me enough for this.”
