ARC, law enforcement rescue 42 cats from dangerous conditions in Milan

MILAN, Tenn. — Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), a national animal protection nonprofit, responded to a request for assistance from the Milan Police Department in the rescue and placement of dozens of cats living in horrendous conditions in a house where three men have been living without running water or electricity.

High ammonia levels, debris, and buckets filled with human excrement created dangerous conditions as rescuers removed the animals. Thousands of cockroaches, spiders, and black mold covered the walls and joists where there was once a ceiling.  All three men living at the property have been charged with one count of animal cruelty each.

When law enforcement first arrived on the scene they found the remains of at least one dead animal inside the house. Many of the cats rescued today exhibited signs of obvious and chronic neglect including eye injuries, fur loss, internal and external parasites, and upper respiratory illness, and all suffering from malnutrition and dehydration. ARC’s field team had to use infrared cameras to find the cats hiding in the walls, ceiling, and floors, then cut into the walls and ceilings to rescue them.

“Without the support of our donors and volunteers, we could not answer these calls for help,” said ARC’s Executive Director, Tim Woodward.” Anyone can be a part of today’s rescue operation by donating, volunteering, or sharing our important work on social media.”

Today’s rescue is the third time this year that Animal Rescue Corps has responded to a request for help from West Tennessee law enforcement and brought the necessary resources to bring a humane solution to these rural communities. In May of this year, ARC responded to a request for help from law enforcement in Weakly County and rescued 52 animals from two properties in Gleason, Tenn.

ARC transported all the cats to ARC’s Rescue Center in Gallatin, Tenn., about 30 minutes east of Nashville. Each animal in this rescue operation, dubbed Operation Hide and Seek, will receive a thorough veterinary exam, appropriate vaccinations, and necessary medical treatments before being matched and transported to trusted shelter and rescue partner organizations that will ultimately adopt them into loving homes.

Donations and volunteers are urgently needed to help abused and neglected animals: visit animalrescuecorps.org

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