Little Guy
Sammi
Geri
All 3 kitties found!
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Little Guy
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Sammi
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Geri
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The Acorn (Thousand Oaks/Agoura Hills area weekly):
A million THANK YOUS to the fabulous volunteers who spent 5 days and 5 nights looking for these kitties. Without them, these cats would probably have been lost forever.
If you have media contacts, let's get them some recognition for the amazing and important work they do. It isn't all dramatic rescues but each and every animal they save is a miracle.
And, if you're so inclined, I'm sure they could all benefit from donations or volunteers, so they can continue to do their work.
Thousands of people have been following this story and I hope we can turn this momentum into something that can help more animals in the future.
Tender Heart Haven
1197C East Los Angeles Ave
PMB 233
Simi Valley, CA 93065
www.tenderhearthaven.org
Valley Veterinarian
Charitable Non-Profit
845 East Los Angeles Ave.
Simi Valley, CA 93065
Attention: Diane Bentz
L.I.F.E. Animal Rescue
P.O. Box 1431
Agoura, CA 91376
818-707-2007 for dog
818-707-6186 for cats
lifeanimalrescue@aol.com
Animal Match Rescue Team, Inc.
[a 501(c)(3) non-profit tax exempt humane organization dedicated to reducing
animal shelter euthanasia]
P.O. Box 1666
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
http://www.AMRT.net
(818) 773-1469
The family's children, taken in early March.
Tuesday, 5/22: The family, including Lucy the dog, made it home to Oakland on Friday night. We went down on Saturday to see them and bring Sammi, Geri, and Little Guy home. Oh wow were they happy to be with their family and home again. But they still came up to us regularly for snuggles :) Everyone is doing well but the two injured humans have a long road ahead of them as they recover and assess. Every time I talk to them they tell me how amazed and grateful they are for all of your help. The rescue workers performed a miracle. And the family was just thrilled when I told them that their story prompted people to volunteer to help other cats.
Sunday, 5/6, 4pm: Wow, this story has taken on a life of its own, with well over 1000 visits to this website in the first 6 days of May, postings to dozens of pet lists, blog/forum discussions, postings on websites, and a (now outdated) mention in the local Thousand Oaks paper. Both human family members with injuries are expected to recover and that wasn't the case a few days ago. I can only imagine that the thousands of prayers and good wishes, and the relief that their feline family members were safe, have contributed to this. The kitties have been transported to my home in the Bay Area and they'll stay up here until the family is able to come home. They all got a clean bill of health from the vet today.
Friday 5/4, 12pm: I have been asked by the rescue folks to please ask people NOT to go to the site unless they've been asked to by Jan or Carol or another coordinator. They say: "We will set traps and not do any patrols tonight. We need it as quiet as possible. I am afraid some people might try to go looking now that there has been a second sighting." Thank you!!
Friday, 5/4, 8am: Sammi was spotted overnight! One of the businesses where she was the other day said she ran out when they opened today, despite volunteers searching that area. Volunteers saw her too. This is excellent news because we were all worried she was leaving the area, which would make her next to impossible to find. Instead, she seems to be hanging out in a circle among a couple of businesses. Food was missing behind a dumpster. Now the rescue workers know where to set traps and will set a ton of them tonight. Cross fingers, pray, think good thoughts!
Thursday, 5/3, 8pm: Nothing so far. The food in a feeding station was gone this morning but they don't know if Sammi ate it. But if other animals are eating it, they believe it is good because it may keep her in the area. The rescue workers are still at it and could really use more help. Mostly for canvassing the area and putting up and handing out flyers. Please call if you can help (Jan is the best choice but you can call me if you can't reach her; I will just give you another number to try, since I'm not local).
Wednesday, 5/2, 11pm: No more sightings today but we're hopeful. The rescue folks have set up feeding stations and traps and will try to catch her overnight.
Wednesday, 5/2, 11:30am: The rescue volunteers have put together a comprehensive plan for capturing Sammi. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not go on site without talking to them first. Sammi is majorly spooked and there is a very real chance of her being killed or lost forever. Call Jan at 310-994-8959. If you can't reach her, call me (Cyndi at 707-775-4475) and I'll put you in touch with someone else.
Wednesday, 5/2, 8:30am: Sammi is alive! She has been spotted over night but she's very scared and running whenever anyone gets within 20 feet of her. If you're on site, please don't try to go near her. She has been running towards roads and the hills where volunteers worry she'll never be found.
Wednesday, 5/2, 2:30am: No news. Sammi hasn't been sighted but volunteers are putting out traps tonight and we'll keep our fingers crossed.
Tuesday, 5/1, 12pm: GERI AND LITTLE GUY ARE CAPTURED AND
SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!
Sammi is still missing.
The trapped cat in the room was Geri and, by sheer luck, the owner/dad showed
up when Jan the rescue worker did. He was able to coax her out. She has a small
foot injury but will be okay. Then they went for Little Guy and he went to his
dad. No sign of Sammi yet. The rescue workers are going to keep looking for
her.
Tuesday, 5/1, 11am: A new sighting at the Edison building. A cat in a room! They don't know the color. Jan is on the scene. More later.
Tuesday, 5/1, 9am: The traps were empty this morning and Little Guy was no longer under the building. But the business owners spotted him again so Carol and others are heading out there now. I told her about an identifying mark he has and she confirmed this cat has it, so we are 100% sure it's him now.
Monday night, 4/30/07: A cat we assume is Little Guy is holed up under a small building near the crash site. He is scared and not ready to come out but there are 4 traps around the building and we hope to have him by morning. No sign of the two girls.
There is a fabulous set of experienced cat rescue folks who are coordinating efforts. I'm in the Bay Area so I don't know the details and haven't been to the site. So if you'd like to help, the best way is to contact the local folks. You can call Jan in Thousand Oaks at 310-994-8959 or me (Cyndi) in the Bay Area at 707-775-4475 or email to cyndi@tikvah.com and we will put you in touch with the group. The more people that help, the better our chances of finding these kitties before something happens to them.
Please don't go to the site on your own. Please contact someone to coordinate efforts. We are concerned about scaring the kitty, especially at night, and with duplicating resources when there is so much ground to cover. Thanks.
As of 5/4 the rescue folks say they have enough volunteers at the site but if you are in the LA area and would like to help. We are trying to get the family rides to go shopping and run other errands. Members of the chemically sensitive community are especially encouraged to volunteer for this. Thanks so much.
On Saturday night, 4/28/07, a family crashed in their RV on southbound 101 in Thousand Oaks, just south of the Hampshire exit, north of the Westlake exit (map). The mother and one of the children have serious injuries but both are now stable and not in immediate danger. They were hospitalized in Los Angeles (about an hour away from the crash site).
The family was traveling with a dog and 4 cats. One cat was killed in the accident. The dog was okay and stayed with Agoura Animal Control over the weekend. She was picked up by the family today. The other 3 cats were missing, but rescue workers have found two of them and spotted the third.
There are fabulous experienced cat rescue workers working on this and I am sure they could use more help. If you'd like to volunteer, please contact me at cyndi@tikvah.com or call me at 707-775-4475 and I will put you in touch with them.
They are placing traps, putting out flyers, and canvassing the area. Agoura Animal Control has also agreed to put out some traps. Unfortunately, it is a large area with dozens (hundreds?) of businesses, a large feral cat population, and coyotes. Plus it's next to the freeway. I'm told it is a "very dangerous" place for cats. So the sooner they are found, the better.
The missing cats are:
Geri - gray DSH female, age 3 - FOUND!
Sammi - gray DSH female, age 3 - FOUND!
Little Guy - black DSH male, age 1 or 2 - FOUND!
Thank you again for all of your help. This has been quite overwhelming and the family is grateful to those helping to find their kitties.
Agoura Animal Control: They have placed some traps on 4/30 (so I was told). They cared for the dog over the weekend (she has been picked up by the family). I've been told they would take possession of any cat brought to a local ER. They are watching out for these cats. (4/30)
LIFE Animal Rescue: Jan from LIFE is part of the volunteer group.
CHP: They gave us initial accident information but are no longer involved. (4/30)
Pet Emergency hospital (Thousand Oaks I assume): Volunteer phoned there evening of 4/30 but no cats matching these descriptions were brought in.
People caring for the local feral colony: Volunteer got flyer to at least one such person on 4/30.
Local Shelter: Agoura Shelter service area is covered by http://animalcare.lacounty.gov/ . In the Agoura shelter there are only 5 cats but two came in on 4/29 and have no gender or age or anything else listed except that breed is "American Shorthair." Worth calling to find out gender and color. (4/30)
Ventura County (Camarillo) shelter: "[It] is much further Northwest, and if someone takes a cat to Camarillo that was found in L.A. County service area, it should be transferred to L.A. County pretty quickly." http://www.vcar.us/ Have not checked this out. (4/30)
Conejo Valley Vet: "About one block North and one mile West of 101 & Hampshire." http://www.conejovet.com/ Have not checked this out. (4/30)
Pet Harbor: No matches in LA County or Ventura County as of 5/3. www.petharbor.com
Local vets: "There are many veterinarians in the crash site area. Look in superpages.com for Agoura hills, Agoura, and Westlake village. Maybe even Thousand Oaks. The closest clinics to the crash site are Anza Animal Hospital, Agoura/Westlake Animal Hospital, Village Veterinary, Agoura Hills Animal Hospital, Agoura Animal Hospital (or Clinic? -- on Dorothy). There are probably more but those are what come to mind as the closest. Also a Banfield at the Westlake Village PetSmart. Oh, also Conejo Animal Clinic (huge place everyone knows) and East West Veterinary Clinic, both in Thousand Oaks, but near the crash site." Have not checked this out. (4/30)
www.catsinthebag.org - "has tons of excellent 'how to find missing cats' info, really amazing ideas."
