LAREDO, Texas — A Laredo Animal Control officer is being hailed as a hero after rushing into a burning shelter last month to rescue dozens of trapped cats.
Jesus Aranda, who joined the city’s Animal Care Services division five months ago, was on duty the night of Jan. 8 when he arrived at the facility around 10 p.m. and discovered it engulfed in smoke. Despite the danger, he immediately entered the building to free the animals.
“I opened the door and saw a bunch of cats inside, so I started releasing them before they could get burned,” Aranda told the Laredo Morning Times.
Working quickly before firefighters arrived, Aranda pulled all 45 cats from their stainless-steel cages, enduring intense heat and smoke. He was later treated for smoke inhalation and released after several hours at a local hospital.
Thanks to his efforts, no lives—human or animal—were lost in the blaze. In recognition of his bravery, the City of Laredo honored Aranda with a certificate of appreciation during a Jan. 18 City Council meeting.
Though his actions were extraordinary, Aranda insists he was only doing his job.
“I love my work,” he said. “If I were someone else, I might not have gone in. I could have waited outside for the fire department, but who knows what would have happened to those cats?”
Aranda, who has served the city for 11 years in various roles, has now cemented his reputation as a dedicated public servant—and an unlikely hero.
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