An Arizona animal shelter has come to the aid of cats affected by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, transporting nearly two dozen cats to their facility for care and adoption.
Deanna Schlagenhaft, Executive Director of Fearless Kitty Rescue in Fountain Hills, shared that the organization reached out to Friends of Normie, a Los Angeles-based rescue group severely impacted by the fires.
“We wanted to do something to help rescues in the Los Angeles fire zones,” Schlagenhaft explained. “Forty percent of their foster homes were in the fire-affected areas and needed to be evacuated. They’ve taken in over 300 cats from the fire zones, and they also took in about 67 cats from a rescue that had some of its foster homes destroyed.”
The situation for pet owners in Los Angeles has become increasingly desperate, according to Schlagenhaft. “Many pet owners who lost their homes have no place to keep their pets. If rescues and shelters are full, pets are often released outside,” she said.
To help, Steve Hedden, president and CEO of Fearless Kitty Rescue, drove to Los Angeles with a volunteer to retrieve the displaced cats. “When we drove into LA, the sky had a purplish-orange hue, completely covered in smoke,” Hedden recalled.
Four of the rescued cats were found in the heart of fire zones. “They were covered in soot and ash when we found them,” Schlagenhaft added.
The cats are expected to be available for adoption in about a week. “If you’re looking for a cat and want to help one that’s coming from a fire-ravaged area, we’d love for you to visit us,” Schlagenhaft encouraged.
The rescue team has already begun conducting medical evaluations of the new arrivals. “They’re all in really good shape and healthy,” Hedden said. “However, the cats that were in the fire are a bit traumatized.”
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