On August 6, the Marine Services Unit of the Tacoma Police Department responded to sightings of cats milling aboard an abandoned boat off the waters of Owen Beach in Tacoma, Washington.
When the officers climbed aboard, they quickly realized the boat was practically overflowing with cats and kittens.
“The best way I can describe it is it looked like a Studio Ghibli movie,” responding officer John Correa told The News Tribune. “It was their boat, and they were all out and about roaming around on it.”
Within 24 hours, the marine officers, animal control officers, and forensic technicians working the case had transported 31 cats to the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County.
In the following days, the officers continued coming back to the boat, just to ensure they had gotten them all. Every day, they uncovered more cats and kittens hiding in the alcoves.
“Unlike a normal case, we do need assistance with getting out there [by boat],” Cheri Page of the Tacoma Animal Control told KOMO News, noting that the cats had likely been living on the sailboat for months, if not longer. “And then there’s the challenge of the boat itself, pretty close quarters, and because it is a sailboat there’s a lot of nooks and crannies for cats to hide in.”
Tacoma Police Department
Rescue efforts continued throughout the week, with the total cat count rising to 61 by Wednesday, August 12.
“Over the course of six days, Tacoma Police Marine Services and Animal Control units have been meticulously working to safely remove dozens of cats from the 40-foot sailboat anchored off Owens Beach,” the Tacoma Police Department posted to Facebook on August 13.
“While we believe we have safely removed all of the cats from the boat, as any cat owner knows, cats are exceptionally good at hiding. Because there is always a possibility that a cat may remain onboard, our work isn’t quite finished.”
As they begin the legal process of having the boat moved, the police department stated that they would continue making trips out to the vessel on a daily basis to make sure that “no cats are left behind.”
They also asked for help from the community.
“If you’re enjoying our waterways or walking the paths at Owens Beach and happen to spot a cat on the sailboat in question, please: take a photo of the cat, note the date and time, include where you saw it, and send the photo and information to animal control.”
Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County
The police department then reminded locals that the sailboat was under active investigation, and that it should not be boarded under any circumstances.
“Our teams are working hard to protect the animals while also protecting the integrity of the investigation,” the Tacoma Police Department emphasized. “For now, we’ll keep checking the boat because when it comes to cats, apparently you can never be too purr-sistent.”
As of August 12, KOMO News had reported that at least 24 of the “sailboat cats” were in foster homes.
Tacoma Police Department
“The good news is that all of these cats are in relatively healthy condition, which makes it easier for our team,” Madi Kaeding, with the Humane Society of Tacoma and Pierce County, told KOMO News.
In addition to hosting a free adoption day event on August 20, the Humane Society encouraged locals in the Washington area to look into fostering.
“Opening your home temporarily to a pet in need helps us have the space for the next one that needs us,” they said in a press release. “All supplies and medical expenses for fosters are covered by Tacoma Humane; all you need to provide is love, patience, and a quiet place for a pet to decompress.”
Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County
For those looking to help from afar, the Humane Society of Tacoma and Pierce County invited people to make a donation on its website or donate pet supplies through the shelter’s Amazon and Chewy wish lists.
“Cats are remarkably resilient, but it only carries them so far: it’s compassion from people like you that carries them the rest of the way,” the organization wrote in a statement.
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Featured Image: Tacoma Police Department
