According to Life is Better Rescue, a Lakewood, Colo.-based animal shelter, it was one of the largest animal rescue events in state history. Thirteen different animal welfare groups teamed together to rescue 161 cats from a Colorado Springs home on Tuesday. Here are the details.
* The Colorado Springs Gazette reported that the rescue began at about 2 p.m. at a home in southwestern Colorado Springs and ended four hours later.
* The cats were reportedly being kept in large kennels and were not mistreated, though some of them have eye problems, the Gazette reported, stating that the rescuers have already started treating some of them with antibiotics. The first goal will be to get them all spayed and neutered, the Gazette quoted Carolyn Spillner, of Life is Better, as saying.
* KRDO reported that the cat owner is a woman in her 50s who started collecting cats about eight years ago.
* The cats were discovered after a volunteer with the Denver-based Colorado Animal Welfare League responded to a Craigslist ad stating "cats in need of homes" that was posted by the cat owner's friend, KRDO reported. The woman isn't facing any charges and her agreement with the rescuers includes keeping her identity and residence a secret.
* Caring for the cats will cost rescuers thousands of dollars, KRDO reported, and individuals who wish to donate can contact the groups involved.
* Life is Better was reporting on its website on Wednesday that the other rescue organizations involved included Almost Home Adoptions, Angels with Paws, Animal Rescue of the Rockies, Colorado Animal Welfare League, Dream Power, Every Creature Counts, Happy Cat Haven, MaxFund, Misha May, Pet Project, Wild Blue Animal Rescue, 4 Paws 4 Life and 9 Lives Rescue.
* The cats are available for rescue from the participating groups, the website stated, and should be ready for new homes within the next one to two weeks.
* Colorado Animal Welfare League stated on its Facebook page that it had taken nine of the cats, three of which needed surgery.
* Animal Rescue of the Rockies reported that it had taken 10 of the cats into foster care and that the animals would be spayed, neutered and tested for feline leukemia before becoming available for adoption.
