Washoe County Regional Animal Services is in the process of recovery after rescuing 80 cats from a hoarding situation in Reno, an operation that required 33 trips and several days of intensive work. The rescue began when officers responded to a two-bedroom apartment following a landlord's report of numerous cats inside after the owner had been evicted.
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According to Shelter Supervisor Arthur Westbrook, the cats were found in severely unsanitary conditions, ranging from newborn kittens to senior felines. During the rescue, officers spent several days removing the animals from the apartment, where one kitten was sadly found dead.
Many of the cats were hungry and approached officers when food was offered, facilitating their capture. However, some cats were less social and required humane traps. Westbrook noted that safety measures were in place to protect the officers from potential bites.
Complicating the situation, a fire occurred on the same day the rescue operations began, which added pressure to the shelter already caring for cats. At one point, the shelter housed approximately 80 cats from the hoarding case along with 87 cats evacuated due to wildfire.
Westbrook mentioned that rescue partners, including the Nevada Humane Society, helped increase the shelter's capacity by facilitating transfers, allowing necessary space to care for both groups of cats.
Most of the rescued cats have since been transferred to the Nevada Humane Society or other organizations and are improving, showing more social behavior and approaching visitors to their cages. Westbrook highlighted the dedication of shelter staff, stating their commitment to saving animals drives their efforts.
The investigation into the hoarding case is ongoing, with 24 of the rescued cats still in the shelter's care as efforts continue to place them in adoption programs.