A strange sight in downtown Erie on Friday night turned into a rescue mission for dozens of cats in need of care.
A man was spotted walking through the city pushing a cart loaded with crates full of cats. The crates contained dozens of animals.
That’s when The ANNA Shelter stepped in.
“When I get these calls, they are strange or funny, and one of the girls said, ‘Is this real life?’ and I said, ‘This is our life,’” said Ruth Thompson, Executive Director of The ANNA Shelter.
According to Thompson, the man was overwhelmed but wanted to make sure the cats were safe and properly cared for.
“A gentleman just realized he was in over his head, doing the best he thought,” Thompson explained. “Maybe not a situation we would have put ourselves in or the way one of us would handle it, but in his mind, it was the best thing to do. He was kind to us, he was cooperative to everything we were doing.”
Thompson emphasized that the man had no intention of abandoning the animals.
“He had no intentions of just dumping them,” Thompson said. “He wanted help for them.”
Volunteers and staff immediately began caring for the cats, providing food, medical treatment, and temporary shelter.
“Being able to take them in and get them to that final stage just gives you the best feeling,” said Alysha Mallon, the cat manager at The ANNA Shelter.
Several of the cats are already being treated for minor upper respiratory illnesses, while others are awaiting spay and neuter procedures before becoming available for adoption.
“The cats are very friendly. They are so sweet,” Mallon said. “A couple of them have some upper respiratory [issues] and we have them on antibiotics. A few of them are on the spay and neuter list, so they will be up for adoption later this week.”
Shelter officials said the situation also serves as a reminder that pet owners who are struggling have options and resources available.
“If we don’t have the physical space, we are going to offer you resources,” Thompson said. “We do spay, neuter, free food, we do medical care, we will do what we can to assist.”
Once the cats complete medical treatment and get clean bills of health, they will be ready for new homes.
According to Mallon, “The cats are very friendly. they are so sweet. A couple of them have some upper respiratory and we have them on antibiotics. A few of them are on the spade and neuter list, so they will be up for adoption later this week.”