12 cats rescued from a Mat-Su home, dozens more remain to be caught

CHUGIAK, Alaska (KTUU) – A group of cat rescuers spent the last week trying to capture dozens of cats from a Mat-Su home following what rescuers called a hoarding situation.

“We received a call that a neighbor was getting a lot of stray cats into her home and she didn’t know where they were coming from,” said Samantha Fierro, who breeds cats in the Chugiak area. “After a little investigation, they realized that the cats had actually come from a neighbor’s house. Unfortunately, the guy who lived there had passed away.

According to Fierro, Animal Control counted at least 36 cats, but she said they expected to find more cats inside.

“They unfortunately found several deceased cats that were inside. The cats with broken legs were stuck inside and unable to get out to look for food, so those are probably in the worst condition. The house obviously smelled horrible. The litter box is overflowing,” Fierro said. “It was a really sad situation.”

Last week, Fierro said people started trapping the cats. So far, she said, 12 cats have been captured and taken to the vet for treatment and vaccinations.

“So far, they’ve been pretty friendly,” Fierro said. “We’re getting them back as fast as we can, we have room to put them.”

Fierro – who has been breeding cats for three years – is currently helping foster cats who were rescued from the Mat-Su property. So far, she has welcomed four cats from this home, joining her collection of four other cats that she already welcomed.

“They were actually surprisingly quite friendly. Some are a little scared, but none of them are wild. I think they can all be happily placed in homes,” Fierro said.

So far, she said, three of the cats were placed in permanent foster care as of Wednesday evening. She has another cat from the Valley home who is expected to go to her permanent foster home Thursday evening or Friday.

“The more foster families we can get, the quicker we can get them out of there,” Fierro said. “Foster care is our greatest need right now. If you have a spare room, just a little time, love and patience to give them is truly the best way you can help.

Fierro said she started breeding cats when she was looking for something to do while her husband was deployed.

The love of fostering quickly grew into a passion, leading her to choose to leave her full-time job to pursue it full-time.

“It’s a really enriching experience. Not only are you saving animal lives, (but) every cat we take off the street is a life saved,” Fierro said.

For Fierro, foster care also has a very special meaning. She told Alaska’s News Source that she grew up in the foster care system.

“I identify a lot with cats, especially stray cats,” Fierro said. “Often we will have a cat who is really scared and may seem aggressive, but all he really needs is just a little patience, patience and understanding, and someone to show him that people are safe and this house is safe. »

Those interested in learning more about fostering can connect with Clear Creek Cat Rescue to find a cat still waiting for a home.

Fierro said if people think animals are in a hoarding situation, they should contact Animal Control.

“That way they can apply whatever is necessary,” Fierro said. “In many cases, hoarders do not want to let animals go unless it is forced or they unfortunately have no other choice.”