Police rescue over 30 cats from abandoned vessel near Tacoma's Owen Beach

A deserted boat spotted near Tacoma's Owen Beach was found to be housing more than 30 cats and kittens in unsafe, unsanitary conditions. Police were alerted on Thursday and, because the vessel was privately owned, secured a search warrant before sending the Marine Services Unit back on Friday to conduct the rescue. Public Information Officer John Correa described the scene as reminiscent of an animated film, noting the animals were scared and undernourished, which required extra caution during extraction.

The operation involved marine officers, animal-control workers and forensic technicians, and the rescued cats were transferred to the Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society. Authorities have identified the boat's owner but have not been able to contact him, and no arrests have been made. The case remains under investigation to determine how the cats came to be aboard the abandoned craft.