Here’s the rest of the story on kitty’s rescue, and care on the scene and after, from his family’s Wesley Chapel FL house fire; plus, details on the previous evening’s events at the home and more on Ms. Melendez’ actions in trying to save her cat.
More details have emerged from the Melendez family house fire of early Tuesday morning where Deana Melendez was arrested for battery over a scuffle as she tried to save her cat from the burning home.
It turns out Mr. and Ms. Melendez argued on Monday night, and things escalated from there. According to her husband, Ms. Melendez was drinking and things got ugly. Police came to the home at 11:30 pm Monday on a domestic disturbance call, where one party gave them a gun for safe keeping. Husband Rubely at some point decided he’d had enough of the drunken scene and went to a hotel for the night.
The fire started as Deana, still on a tear, tore down an oil painting done by her husband and burned it in the fireplace in the early morning hours on Tuesday. She did not open the flue and the house caught on fire.The fire has been ruled accidental.
As we reported yesterday, 21 year old son Kiyon, plus the family’s two birds and four dogs all got out safely but the cat could not be found. Deana was insistent on remaining in the house to search for the cat, and she swore at and struggled with responders to the scene who tried to bring her to safety.
Ms. Melendez responded with “F- you, I’m looking for my cat” to a firefighter doing his duty in trying to get her out of the burning house, and she became combative. As the firefighter tried to carrry her out of the house, she reportedly hit him in the head and kicked him in the knee. Once outside, she continued to scuffle with responders while attempting to get back into the house, and she punched the deputy as she was being handcuffed in an attempt to restrain her. The two counts of battery are one each for the firefighter and the deputy. Her drunkenness and the out-of-control nature of her behavior over the course of the evening and early morning hours presumably contributed to the arrest, though most of us can understand her frantic concern over the missing cat.
The fire is reported to have burned for about an hour, causing extensive damage and a partial roof collapse. A firefighter found the cat a couple of hours afterward, behind the house scratching a screen, trying to get out of the lanai.
Firefighters administered oxygen at the scene, and neighbor Laura Kulikowski gave him syringes of water, soothed him by wrapping him in towels, and took him to her vet as soon as the office opened for the day. She is taking care of all the pets for now, as the Melendez family cannot stay in the burned out home.
We’re glad to find that the cat, called Kitty in some reports, but seeming to be called something starting with “G” on a tv report, was indeed given care by firefighters on the scene, and was later seen by a vet. He looks pretty much in shock and bedraggled and sooty on the TV footage, and his whiskers are singed right off.
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Yesterday’s story, with news video of the fire and of kitty being reunited with the son and dad.
Cat Found by Firefighters After Woman Punches Cop Who Kept Her Out of Burning Home
Not her moment of glory … Deana Melendez’ mug shot, taken after the ordeal of the bad night, house fire, and fight with on-scene responders.
I would have done the same thing to save one of my animals. If they weren’t going to allow her to save her cat, they should have, esp. since they were wearing protective gear. There is no excuse for her behavior (prior to) or the fact that she started the fire in the first place. But I don’t blame her one bit for fighting to save her cat. I would fight to the death for one of mine.
I would have done the same thing to save one of my animals. If they weren’t going to allow her to save her cat, they should have, esp. since they were wearing protective gear. There is no excuse for her behavior (prior to) or the fact that she started the fire in the first place. But I don’t blame her one bit for fighting to save her cat. I would fight to the death for one of mine.
Ditto that. I would have fought them to save my furries. That’s my biggest fear, that my house will catch fire when I’m not here and my furries will be trapped inside.
i understand the need to save the pets, but in those moments of panic people are not thinking clearly. as much as i love my cat, i would not want the roof to collapse on me or the fire fighters. people do die in these fires. at some point you have to give up the search in order to save lives. i know i will be tared and feathered for saying that…..but it’s the truth.
The truth is, we are all entitled to handle our own situations how we see fit, when it comes to our own animals. It is not for anyone else to decide that for us…They can decide that for their own home or their own animals, but not for mine. In moments of panic sometimes we realize what is most important. If that woman wanted to risk her safety to save her cat, that is her right to do that. If she is to be held accountable for anything, it should be her behavior that actually caused the fire. Do I want to burn to death saving one of my animals? No. But would I try to save them no matter what? Absolutely.
THis person should not drink anymore!!!!!!!!! She put her animals in jeopardy!!!!! also lost her home or part of it. So glad the kitty is doing good. Hate to hear a story like this
I’m kind of glad I only have one pet and he stays in th same places, If my parents house ever caught fire, I know exactly where he is and I can grab him on the way out of the house.
Glad the kitty is ok.
Wow – what a story! Glad no one was injured and all the animals are safe! I really hope this family, especially this woman, have learned their lesson and get the treatment they need. Obviously alcohol was a contributing factor to all this unnecessary drama.
Considering the alcholism I’m hoping the NEIGHBOR can keep them all~! God bless this neighbor indeed~! Thank you so much, hope she knows how much this is appreciated…… She probably only has to look into the faces of these animals to see it~! :*)
That is my single biggest fear, period. I hate going to work, putting the corgi monster in her crate and leaving my cats and the foster kittens alone. I have been keeping my senior cat in a special room just in case something like this happens so she cannot run under the bed. I wish I could tote the entire entourage with me everywhere or never have to leave them alone.