A cat found in the rubble of a burned building two weeks after the fire will be returned to her owner.
Suger was just one of the pets missing after a deadly fire in a multi-unit residential building in Schnectady, New York earlier this month, and her story is a bright spot in a sad and uncertain situation.
Schenectady Fire Department officials say they saw a cat run from the building at 100-102 Jay St. on the day of the fire. Firefighters and demolition workers spotted her again in the building’s rubble on Sunday and were able to rescue her.
When attempts to locate and contact the cat’s owner through Facebook led nowhere, she was turned over to the Latham Animal Hospital.
Latham Hospital shared kitty’s photos and wrote at Facebook on March 22:”This little young calico female kitty was found on the premises of 101 to 103 Jay St. fire. Possibly from appt 3D. If you have any information on her please call Latham Animal Hospital 518 785 1481. She is currently getting much wanted food and affection and all the medical attention she needs.”
“I imagine finding water would have been difficult, and I imagine finding some rodents that would have kept her hydrated, at least initially,” Dr. Eileen Geagen of Latham Animal Hospital said. “She’s been eating up a storm since she got here.”
Hospital staff were able to confirm that the cat was the missing Suger and say she lived in the building’s ruins for 16 days might not have survived much longer had crews not rescued her on Sunday.
“He just had her cradled in his arms,” Sarah Eggelhoefer with the Latham Animal Hospital said. “She was sleeping.”
“She’s doing better than some of the people and other animals,” Dr. Geagen said.
Suger’s owner Shantia Robinson is now staying with family in Georgia and arrangements are being made to reunite her with her cat.
Shantia says she tried keeping up a long distance search for Suger following the fire and her relocation to Georgia.
“I called them every day, and every time I called, they didn’t have her,” she said.
Shantia said she and her family left their apartment and went outside when the alarm went off on the day of the fire but they left Suger inside to stay safe, thinking the alarm was one more false alarm that meant nothing. Once outside, she realized her mistake.
“Once I get outside, I see 104 engulfed in flames,” she recalled.
Firefighters refused to allow her back inside to collect Suger and any belongings she might be able to grab.
She stayed in contact with the Jay Street Missing Pets Facebook page, but was losing hope by the time she got the call saying Suger was safe.
Latham Animal Hospital has waived the cost of caring for Suger and getting her spayed.
Jay Street Missing Pets has been working on the plans to reunite Shantia with Suger.
fabuloso!