Photo courtesy of Jill Wage

Leo’s 2-day tree adventure ends as Lake County firefighters arrive to help

Inside Scoop, Mount Dora, Unincorporated Lake | By Marilyn M. Aciego | September 8, 2026 | Cat rescue, Florida, Lake County, Lake County Fire Rescue, LCFR, Mount Dora | 1 minute of reading

MOUNT DORA, Fla. — After spending two days stuck in a tree, Leo the orange cat finally made his way back to solid ground Tuesday morning, just as Lake County firefighters were preparing to rescue him.

Leo belongs to 92-year-old George, who lives on Laura Lane in unincorporated Mount Dora. After the cat spent two days in the tree, a neighbor called Lake County Fire Rescue for help.

Engine 27 responded around 10:40 a.m., and firefighters put up a ladder to reach Leo. But before they could make the climb, Leo came down on his own.

“Lake County Fire Rescue is always happy to assist our furry friends and their families,” LCFR Public Information Officer Ava Brown told Inside Lake.

In the end, firefighters didn’t have to make the climb, and George got his Leo back.

About The Author

Marilyn M. Aciego

Marilyn M. Aciego is the Publisher of Inside Lake and a veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering Lake County. Born and raised locally, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College, where her journalism career began. Marilyn has reported on some of the area’s most high-profile and impactful stories, including the disappearance of Trenton Duckett, the death of Sheriff Chris Daniels, and the murders of Jamaria Sessions, Master Deputy Bradley Link and Xavier Williams. Her work is known for exclusive sourcing, public records expertise, and a willingness to ask uncomfortable questions. In 2023, she was honored with Lake-Sumter State College’s Distinguished Alumni Professional Achievement Award. In 2024, Marilyn was the first to break two major Lake County public safety stories, reinforcing Inside Lake as a trusted source for timely, independent, and community-focused reporting. In addition to publishing Inside Lake, Marilyn serves as the Florida Bureau Chief for an international media organization. She has an adult son she raised in the same community she reports on every day.

About The Author

Marilyn M. Aciego

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