Thanks to a concerted effort by city workers, neighborhood organizations, and devoted animal lovers, nearly 100 cats were rescued from a single Palm Coast residence this week in a heartwarming demonstration of compassion and cooperation.
Deputies from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residential welfare check in Palm Coast’s R-section last week, which led to the rescue. An elderly resident was attempting to care for 96 cats that were housed in the house, deputies discovered. Although deputies did not discover any deliberate animal abuse or neglect, they did conclude that the cats’ living conditions were dangerous and that they would have to be taken out.
After getting in touch with Palm Coast Animal Control, deputies managed to get the cats out and transport them to Flagler Animal Hospital for assessment. Teams worked from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the day of the rescue, carefully extracting cats and kittens from the house and bringing them to safety. With 96 cats, the endeavor got underway. One of the rescued cats gave birth soon after being brought in, so the total has now topped 100.
Code Enforcement, Palm Coast Animal Control, and even non-animal services city staff stepped in to assist. Local partners generously offered their unwavering support in response to their persistent efforts:
Barbara Grossman, the Code Enforcement Manager for Palm Coast, described this as an amazing illustration of what can happen when our community joins together for a similar goal. The commitment, consideration, and teamwork displayed during this rescue were incredibly motivating.
These felines are now prepared for their second opportunity.
The Flagler Humane Society is holding a special Coffee with Cats adoption event on Sunday, August 17, from 12 to 3 p.m., to assist in finding them loving homes. The kitties are available for visitors to meet in a laid-back setting. Cat adoptions will be discounted by half during the event. Giving one of these rescued kitties the fur-ever home they deserve and enjoying a cup of coffee are the ideal opportunities to meet your new best friend.
For additional details regarding adopting or contributing to the rescue, please visit www.flaglerhumanesociety.org to reach the Flagler Humane Society.
Adopters are advised to wait until the August 17 event since the rescued cats are not yet available for adoption.
