60 cats rescued from abandoned boat anchored off Washington state
Police in Tacoma, Washington, say they have rescued 60 cats and kittens from an abandoned sailboat that was found anchored off a city beach last week.
A police investigation in Washington state has led to the rescue of sixty cats and kittens from an abandoned sailboat anchored near Tacoma's Owen Beach. The 40-foot boat, initially spotted earlier this month, remains the center of a criminal inquiry as authorities search for any additional felines that may have escaped detection.
The Tacoma Police Department, in a recent social media update, reiterated that while they believe all the cats have been safely removed from the vessel, the task is not yet complete, as cats are known for their ability to hide. The department, working alongside Tacoma Animal Control crews, has confirmed the removal of the final cat from the boat after nearly a week of locating and carefully collecting each one from the vessel.
The rescue operation began on August 6 when officers responded to reports of the abandoned sailboat in hazardous conditions. Upon arrival, they encountered a scene that appeared chaotic, with dozens of cats and kittens living in unsafe circumstances. An image shared by the department depicted well over a dozen cats huddled together in one corner of the boat, including at least three gazing upwards from a plastic bucket on the floor.
Many of the cats were visibly frightened and malnourished, necessitating patience, care, and a significant amount of teamwork from the rescue personnel.
Since the initial response, rescue crews have been seen in protective gear, transporting cats off the vessel in crates. Authorities have been urging community members to assist in their search for any remaining cats that may be on the boat, which they plan to eventually move unless its owner comes forward. Anyone who sees a cat on the sailboat is asked to send a picture along with the date, time, and location of the sighting to Tacoma Animal Control, but they are advised not to board the boat themselves due to safety concerns.
In Tacoma, residents are required to obtain pet licenses that restrict the number of dogs and cats an individual can own to six per household. While the exact nature of the criminal case remains undisclosed, local news outlet KIRO reported that it could potentially be classified as a hoarding case under Washington's animal cruelty ban, which prohibits various forms of mistreatment and neglect.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
