Community rescues 46 abandoned cats from Milan trailer park

GLEASON, Tenn. — Dozens of furry creatures were left abandoned in a trailer park but all hope was not lost. Community members stepped up and turned a simple pet rescue mission into a safe haven.

Last October, over 42 cats were left homeless as residents moved away from a Milan Trailer Park. With nowhere to go, one community member made the ultimate sacrifice.

“I tried contacting rescues, nobody would step in and the voice in my heart said what about you,” said Rafael Pizana, owner of Cat-Tastrophe Sanatorium

Pizana and others worked tirelessly for months to trap and rescue those abandoned animals and give them a fresh start.

“Most of the cats that you see did not look like this when we brought them here. They were super lethargic but now, they have full-time food. 24/7 there’s food out here, day and night. Water’s always fresh and clean,” said Pizana.

Pizana opened up his home to rehabilitate 46 rescued cats, but he says he couldn’t have done it without the community’s help.

“It’s rewarding and heartbreaking all at the same time. My goal is not to keep the cats. My goal is to find homes for them,” said Joanne Schultz, owner of Huntingdon TNR and Kitten Rescue.

Schultz and Marilyn Castleman, cat rescuer, joined the fight to save these fur-babies but the journey has not been easy.

“And then there’s the heartache of when you lose one we’ve had so many illnesses we had to take care of. We lost a lot of cats because they were too far sick. We did everything we could with their help,” said Schultz.

“If you see a cat out there, please just try to fix them, please, even one or two, you’re making such a difference,” said Castleman.

Pizana says there’s so much work still to be done, but they can’t do it without your help.

“If I can make a difference with what little bit that I have. It shouldn’t be a reason why nobody else can’t make a difference even if it’s just one cat at a time,” said Pizana.

Supporters like Pamela Bates and Charlotte Leathers play a big role in changing the lives of these animals and helping them get adopted. You too can also make a difference. To make a donation, click here.

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