A police response near Tacoma's Owen Beach became an animal rescue after officers came across an abandoned boat holding dozens of cats and kittens in unsafe conditions.
What happened?
According to the New York Post, officers in Tacoma, Washington, removed more than 30 cats and kittens from an abandoned boat.
Tacoma police Public Information Officer John Correa said the scene was far from a routine discovery for Tacoma police.
"The best way I can describe it is it looked like a Studio Ghibli movie," Correa told The News Tribune.
Police said the animals appeared frightened and malnourished, and the department described the situation as "more than 30 cats and kittens living in unsafe conditions."
Tacoma Animal Control had to get a search warrant before officers could go aboard and take the animals off the boat, since the vessel was still privately owned.
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Once the warrant was approved, Tacoma police's Marine Services Unit went back to the vessel and removed the cats.
The animals were then taken to the Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society as investigators worked to determine how they ended up on the boat.
Why does it matter?
Abandoned animals can quickly end up in life-threatening conditions when they are left without food, clean water, shelter, or medical care.
In this case, police said the cats were already malnourished and frightened, suggesting they may have been surviving for some time in an unstable, isolated environment.
A vessel also creates additional hazards, including exposure to the elements, risks of injury, and limited escape routes if an animal becomes trapped.
Large groups of unspayed or unneutered cats can create animal welfare challenges if they are not safely removed, treated, and placed in care.
What's being done?
Tacoma police said several groups took part in the rescue, including the Marine Services Unit, animal control workers, and forensic technicians.
Before officers could enter the privately owned boat, authorities first had to obtain a warrant.
Correa said the Marine Services Unit located information tied to the boat's owner but could not reach him. No arrests had been made as the investigation continued.
The rescued cats are receiving care and stabilization at the Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society, where they can be assessed, fed, and treated.
Tacoma police summed up the operation by saying, "Through a tremendous team effort, every cat and kitten is being safely removed from the boat."
Correa offered perhaps the most memorable image of all: "It was their boat, and they were all out and about roaming around on it."
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