Saving Cats from the Brutal Marshall Fire

FACING DISASTERS TOGETHER

Help Save The Cats From The Brutal Marshall Fire

Update: 02/15/2022

We want to thank every supporter who generously donated to help the cats of the Marshall fire. Animal Victory worked with five amazing organizations that were rescuing the cats. Each of these organizations worked tirelessly together to rescue as many cats as possible.

Sadly, not many cats were found after the Marshall Fire. The fire spread so fast that most people were unable to rescue their pets from their homes. Most are believed to have died in the fire in their homes. However, the Harmony Vet continues to treat pets that have been and will continue to be popping up over the next probably six months with secondary issues from the fire. (secondary smoke inhalation, trauma, relinquishing, owners that lost homes needing help with routine veterinary care.) Now a little over one month later and cases are starting to pop up.

Shannon Jay, founder of Feline search and rescue and ASSERT, Animal Survival and Safety Emergency Response Team was deployed to the Boulder Fires burn zone in January. Shannon has been conducting feline search and rescue missions for the last four fire seasons having been deployed to nine western US wildfire burn zones. He teamed up with world-famous thermal drone pilot/animal rescuer Douglas Thron and Ryan Okrant who is the founder of ASSERT(Animal Survival & Safety Emergency Response Team). Douglas and Ryan had just wrapped up several weeks inside the tornado zones of Kentucky where they were able to rescue numerous displaced/lost tornado cats. They were boots on the ground to affect the search and rescue of fire cats in the burn zone in that area.

Soul Dog Rescue

Katie Albright, Missing Pet Recovery Katie is a certified rescue and response technician who was boots on the ground. She is the administrator of the Boulder Colorado Fire lost and found pets Facebook page as well.

Harmony Veterinary, Lexi Fund The Harmony Vet continues to treat pets that have been and will continue to be popping up over the next probably six months with secondary issues from the fire. (secondary smoke inhalation, trauma, relinquishing, owners that lost homes needing help with routine veterinary care.) Now a little over one month later and cases are starting to pop up.

If you would like to donate to the fire fund please donate to Harmony Vet Center also known as Lexi’s fund. DONATE TO LEXIS FUND HERE

Cat found in Spanish Hills Merlin, Soul Dog Rescue

The tabby cat pictures above are Skye. She was a barn kitty that was found in the flattened area of the burn zone. She is currently staying at the Harmony Vet clinic in their little private cat ward. She has trauma and is not trusting people but is making progress!

Rescued Tabby, Soul Dog

ASSERT Team

Sending up the thermal drone

Katie Albright’s Rescue Dog

A message from Shannon Jay: Cat rescue expert.

“Here is a sequence from a trail cam…I found this big boy on day two. Decided to take a shot at him on my last night in CO. In short, he came to the trap on two occasions during the night but would not commit. As I drove into the burn zone to do some surveillance later in the evening I found him about 50 yards from the trap location. He was in stalk mode as I watched him through my thermal scope. As he was low to the ground near a brush pile I saw a mouse about three feet from him and he was zoned in on it…big boy made the pounce, sealed the deal, and ate the mouse right in front of me. It was then I realized he was going to be ok… a strong hunter, healthy and thick coat, solidly built, and with no apparent injuries. We saw about ten cats total on our time…using an aerial thermal imaging device as well as a ground-level handheld thermal imaging scope. As I gathered intel on the situation we came to understand that the cast majority of the missing felines were known to be INSIDE their homes when they were burned to nothing. Based on my experience and educated guess, I opine that the odds of a firecat making it out of a burning home is about 5%. The weather was alternately very frigid and sorta mild during my time on the ground. At times we had snow flurries, 25 mph winds, and sub-freezing temperatures. After consulting with the local rescue group, I analyzed their work and offered some guidance on best practices for finding and rescuing firecats, and ultimately left that effort in good hands. The highlight and best purpose for my trip to CO was to present my firecat search and rescue workshop.”

Click here to watch Shannon’s rescue presentation

Update: 01/11/2022:

Our first round of donations has gone to Shannon Jay who will be deploying to the Boulder Fires burn zone this week. Shannon has been conducting feline search and rescue missions for the last four fire seasons having been deployed to nine western US wildfire burn zones. He will be teaming with world-famous thermal drone pilot/animal rescuer Douglas Thron and Ryan Okrantwho is the founder of ASSERT(Animal Survival & Safety Emergency Response Team). Douglas and Ryan have just wrapped up several weeks inside the tornado zones of Kentucky where they were able to rescue numerous displaced/lost tornado cats. They will be boots on the ground this week to affect the search and rescue of fire cats in the burn zone in that area.

The Marshall Fire sparked in Boulder County is estimated to have burned 6,026 acres. According to the Denver Post, most people safely evacuated from the wildfire that was propelled by 105 mph winds and left their homes thinking they would be back.