On the evening of April 22, 2024, a fire displaced 50 families from Avonwood Apartments in Avon. Late the next day I learned that two cats were missing from a first-floor apartment below where the fire broke out. Initially the owner reported that the windows in his apartment were broken out by the fire department and his cats escaped.
I volunteered and intended to set my equipment up inside the apartment in hopes the cats would climb back inside. When I got there, I discovered that the windows were all intact and closed. Unfortunately, access to the entire apartment building was locked by management due to danger and an investigation. I peered through the windows, but no cats were visible. The owner stated that several people including animal control had searched the apartment earlier that day. My goal was to search the entire apartment again.
A kind worker allowed us access to the apartment. Water was dripping from the ceiling; everything was wet and smelled of smoke. Cats were not seen in the living room or kitchen. We moved down the hall and the owner said the cats weren’t in the bathroom. Wanting to check myself, I entered the dark bathroom and checked the shower. Nothing. I opened the door to the sink cabinet but couldn’t see inside due to darkness. I told the owner to come back with his flashlight and look in the cabinet. He said he checked the bathroom earlier. I asked him to check again. He used his flashlight to look and exclaimed “They’re both in here!” The cats were huddled together in the small cabinet - wet and terrified. I quickly shut the bathroom door and instructed Kris to wait until we got some carriers into the bathroom to secure the cats. One at a time, I handed him carriers into which he placed each cat. Once secured, I opened the bathroom door. I rechecked each carrier to be sure there were safely latched. Then we covered the carriers and placed them into a vehicle.
The cats were then taken to the animal shelter. Animal Control had prepared a kennel for them with hiding places, food, water, litter, and a scratching post. The cats were safe for the time being while Kris figured out the next steps. Kris was also given information about low-cost neutering and vaccinations and offers of food and supplies.
Even if you checked an area, check it multiple times. The cats had managed to hide earlier in the day and escape detection. Once I saw the windows were closed, my gut told me the cats were still inside. All I did was convince the owner that we needed to go in and search the entire apartment again.
Later I was told that the fire department found the cats and placed them into the bathroom for safety. The volunteers notified police on scene, but the information wasn’t communicated to the owner or animal control.
I volunteered and intended to set my equipment up inside the apartment in hopes the cats would climb back inside. When I got there, I discovered that the windows were all intact and closed. Unfortunately, access to the entire apartment building was locked by management due to danger and an investigation. I peered through the windows, but no cats were visible. The owner stated that several people including animal control had searched the apartment earlier that day. My goal was to search the entire apartment again.
A kind worker allowed us access to the apartment. Water was dripping from the ceiling; everything was wet and smelled of smoke. Cats were not seen in the living room or kitchen. We moved down the hall and the owner said the cats weren’t in the bathroom. Wanting to check myself, I entered the dark bathroom and checked the shower. Nothing. I opened the door to the sink cabinet but couldn’t see inside due to darkness. I told the owner to come back with his flashlight and look in the cabinet. He said he checked the bathroom earlier. I asked him to check again. He used his flashlight to look and exclaimed “They’re both in here!” The cats were huddled together in the small cabinet - wet and terrified. I quickly shut the bathroom door and instructed Kris to wait until we got some carriers into the bathroom to secure the cats. One at a time, I handed him carriers into which he placed each cat. Once secured, I opened the bathroom door. I rechecked each carrier to be sure there were safely latched. Then we covered the carriers and placed them into a vehicle.
The cats were then taken to the animal shelter. Animal Control had prepared a kennel for them with hiding places, food, water, litter, and a scratching post. The cats were safe for the time being while Kris figured out the next steps. Kris was also given information about low-cost neutering and vaccinations and offers of food and supplies.
Even if you checked an area, check it multiple times. The cats had managed to hide earlier in the day and escape detection. Once I saw the windows were closed, my gut told me the cats were still inside. All I did was convince the owner that we needed to go in and search the entire apartment again.
Later I was told that the fire department found the cats and placed them into the bathroom for safety. The volunteers notified police on scene, but the information wasn’t communicated to the owner or animal control.
