OCALA, Fla. — A group of volunteers in Ocala worked Monday to rescue 20 rescue cats trapped inside Whispurring Woods Rescue by a large oak tree that fell during Hurricane Irma.
The tree crushed the shelter and killed one of the cats.
A volunteer group made up of residents, the Ocala Police Department, Touchdown Lawncare, Central Florida Electric and W.A.G.S. Animal Rescue worked at the site to remove debris.
Part of the tree was also immediately removed out of fear it could cause a further collapse of the shelter.
An exit was made for the cats and “the hope is that they will come out tonight without commotion,” Whispurring Woods Rescue said in a statement.
The rescue lost most of its supplies in the storm and was asking the public for help to get the shelter up and running again.
Anyone wanting to donate to the shelter can call owner Karin Ahrman at 352-816-5426 or visit the Whispurring Woods Rescue website.