Fire leaves 150 Cats Homeless in Upstate NY
Articles
Animalkind, Inc

Fire leaves 150 Cats Homeless in Upstate NY

By Michael Mullins

The New York Companion
May 4, 2012

The former interior of Animalkind

Over 150 rescued cats were displaced this week after a fire Tuesday night forced Animal Kind Rescue of Hudson, New York, to evacuate its three-story, free-roaming shelter. Volunteers were able to safely remove all the cats, which are currently staying in temporary housing throughout the area. According to Hudson Fire Commissioner Timothy Hutchings, the mattress fire likely resulted from a cigarette.

Though the disaster was initiated by a fire, it was the building’s sprinkler system that apparently caused the most damage to the building. “There was four inches of water on each floor and the ceilings are wet and falling. It's just a nightmare, we lost everything," said Animal Kind Director Katrin Hecker.

According to Hecker, of the 152 cats that were relocated, 55 are in foster homes, 24 feral cats are at area farms and the remainder are either in the homes of volunteers or staying temporarily at The Warren Inn, a local hotel that made space available for Animal Kind’s displaced cats. Additionally, five cats were taken by The Humane Society, which also assisted Animal Kind with transporting cats after the fire.

Located in Hudson, New York, about 45 minutes south of Albany, the volunteer-based rescue organization was founded in 2000 and provides Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) services, emergency rescue and low-cost spay-neuter options for low-income pet owners throughout Columbia and Greene Counties. In an interview earlier today, Hecker told The Companion that Animal Kind Rescue will move forward and rebuild its shelter.

Now more than ever Animal Kind is in need of donations to replace that which was lost in the fire as well as find homes for its rescued cats. Please send all donations to P.O.Box 902, Hudson, NY 12534 or visit the non-profit’s website at www.animalkind.info. To inquire about fostering or adopting an Animal Kind cat displaced by the fire, email Katrin Hecker at animalkind@mhcable.com.