A fearless mother cat ran into a burning building five times to save her kittens.
When firefighters were called to the garage fire in Brooklyn they noticed the heroic cat carrying her kittens one by one out of the building. The mother cat, named Scarlett, went back into the burning building five times.
“Scarlett herself had been severely burned in the process of pulling her kittens from the fire. Her eyes were blistered shut, her ears and paws burned, and her coat highly singed,” firefighter David Giannelli said.
“The majority of her facial hair had been burnt away. After saving the kittens she was seen to touch each of her kittens with her nose to ensure they were all there and alive, as the blisters on her eyes kept her from being able to see them, and then she collapsed unconscious.”
Brooklyn firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and get Scarlett and her babies medical attention. Unfortunately, one of her babies didn’t make it but the others were treated and found forever homes.
Scarlett’s incredible story inspired the North Shore Animal League to create the “Scarlett Award for Animal Heroism” which will be presented to one deserving cat at their annual Lewyt Humane Awards Luncheon.
