On Thursday night, Lauren Fries, Shelter Behavior Services Director at the Animal Humane Society (AHS), prepared for a rescue mission amid looming storms. “We were loading the car… waiting for a series of storms. A tornado alarm forced us to huddle downstairs,” she recalled. Once the weather cleared, she drove north to the potential evacuation zone of the Jenkins wildfire in St. Louis County.
Approaching Cloquet, Fries noticed smoky air and a faint burnt smell. Her final stop was a home where owners, reluctant to evacuate without their 60+ cats, sought AHS help. As a member of AHS’s critical response team, Fries found the cats secured in a “cat-friendly” space with shelves and cubicles. “They were loved, friendly, and came right to us,” she said.
AHS now cares for 57 adult cats, four kittens, and a 5-year-old Great Dane. The animals are receiving medical attention—including spaying/neutering and treatment for eye/ear issues. WCCO witnessed the first felines moved to adoption floors Thursday morning.
For Fries, the rescue is bittersweet. “The owners adored their pets and had cared for them well. They were emotional but did great in letting us help so they could evacuate safely.” Once medically cleared, the animals will be available for adoption at AHS’s three locations.
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