Operation Hide & Seek: more than 40 neglected cats and kittens in need of help in urgent hoarding crisis
In response to an urgent request from law enforcement for assistance with a heartbreaking hoarding case, ARC’s Field Team deployed today for Operation Hide & Seek. In rural West Tennessee, three men lived in a run-down house with no electricity. Cockroach and spider infestations swarmed across the walls and floors. And more than 40 cats, many of them kittens, suffered amidst trash, clutter, animal waste, and human waste.
When law enforcement first arrived at the scene, the remains of at least one dead animal were found on site. The surviving animals show signs of chronic neglect, including eye infections, parasites, dehydration, hunger, extreme dermatitis, upper respiratory illness, and more.
Litterboxes, tubs, and toilets overflowed with waste, and water bowls were empty when ARC arrived. In the midst of these dangerous conditions, the team found multiple kittens in severe distress. The ARC medical team immediately worked to stabilize the kittens in the worst condition.
Many of the adult cats hid in the ceilings and rafters. ARC’s Field Team carefully extracted each one and combed the house carefully with infrared thermal imaging to make sure not one animal is left behind.
With your help, their new lives begin now.
In West Tennessee, there are very few resources for animals. A case like this exceeds the local community’s ability to help. That’s why ARC, powered by supporters like you, steps in. Each one of these cats will be relocated to ARC’s Rescue Center where they will receive much-needed medical and social care, as well as daily physical care and enrichment until they are ready to be placed within our network of vetted placement partners in high-adoption regions.
If you are in a position to help today with a donation to support ARC’s work, please do. Every donation makes a difference.
And, if you are in a position to volunteer, please sign up today. Opportunities are always available in ARC’s Rescue Center outside Nashville, TN, as well as sometimes nationally and beyond. We sometimes offer travel stipends.
Does one of the white kittens have blue eyes? If one does, I would love to adopt him/her please. I had one and I loved him so much. I named him Ice because of his beautiful blue eyes and I haven’t been able to find another one so I would love to get another one. Thank you so much and thank you for everything y’all do to rescue animals in bad conditions
Thank you for your interest and for choosing to adopt! Because of our focus on large-scale animal rescue, Animal Rescue Corps does not directly foster or adopt out the animals we rescue. As they are ready, we place the animals with pre-approved 501c3 non-profit placement partners where these animals will continue their journey to a loving home. You can see some of our placement partners here. https://animalrescuecorps.org/adopt/
Because of the volume of inquiries, volume of animals we rescue, and, sometimes, because of the preferences of our placement partners, we are broadly unable to provide placement information on specific animals. You can follow our social pages to see graduation posts tagging our incredible placement partners.
We encourage those looking to add a new companion animal to their family to visit our partners’ pages and local shelters and rescues and consider all the currently available animals. You will need to follow all application procedures and policies of the shelters and rescues handling the adoption; animals may not be immediately available for adoption upon placement. Best of luck finding your new best friend, and thank you always for choosing adoption.