Rosalie was rescued five weeks after a fire at her Denver, CO home, where she remained inside. Now she has been reunited with her family.
Phillip Sallee and his family were burned out of their home by a fire that destroyed several units at the Woodhaven Apartments in Denver, in late October. The family lost track of their two cats after the fire and had no way of knowing whether they’d lived or died, and were unable to search the building for them. Residents have not been allowed to return to their homes to collect their belongings, or in the Sallees’ case, search for their missing pets. Arapahoe County officials say the complex’s management has refused to apply for the proper inspections that would clear the way for residents to return to their homes.
Phillip Sallee spotted Rosalie last Wednesday when he was peeking through the window of his apartment. After Woodhaven management told the family they could not enter the building to retrieve their pet, Phillip was worried that he would not be able to save her. He called the Denver Dumb Friends League looking for help, and DFL gained access to the building and rescued Rosalie that day. She remained at the shelter, getting checked out and being looked after by staff, and was reunited with her family on Friday.
A shelter staffer who made the rescue told Fox 13 news that Rosalie had access to an open bag of kibble and water from the toilet during the 5 weeks she was on her own in the apartment.
The family is happy to have Rosalie back with them in their temporary accommodations. She is still skittish after her ordeal, but otherwise seems fine.
The family hopes their other cat escaped the building, but still have no word on her.
.
.
