Support pours in for Atwater cat sanctuary after deadly fire

Just hours after a fire devastated the Last Hope Cat Kingdom, cars were lining the dirt road to the Atwater pet shelter, bringing help and emotional support.

Renate Schmitz, operator of the nonprofit animal sanctuary, said the fire on New Year's Eve seems to have brought out the best in the community.

"I couldn't believe the response," Schmitz said. "People showed up and helped us take everything out and gave shelter to our animals."

The fire at the Bailey Road facility in rural Atwater started early Friday in the office. The smoke went through the ventilation system and killed 69 cats sleeping in the building.

The cause of the fire was electrical, said Jose Quintana, fire apparatus engineer for Cal Fire.

The damage was estimated at $25,000.

Schmitz awoke at 1 a.m. Friday to check on dogs and discovered the fire. Some cats were taken to Animal Medical Center in Merced to be treated, Schmitz said. Dr. Leah Hill, the veterinarian at the medical center, told Schmitz the bills for the cats will be paid for through the center's fund to help animals.

Pam Moody, a Last Hope volunteer for two years, said the response from the community and across the nation has been tremendous. "I've gotten messages from Florida, Nebraska and Arizona," Moody said. "That really gives us a lot of strength."

Many volunteers are still in the first stages of grief over the loss of the cats.

"I'm in denial," Moody said. "When I think of all the lives that were lost, I start to cry. But we have to take care of the rest of the animals."

That's exactly what Schmitz and other volunteers were doing over the New Year's weekend and Monday.

Students from UC Merced came out and helped put up shelter for the cats, Schmitz said. And people from shelters in Turlock, Modesto and Fresno came the first day and took 50 animals to foster.

Travis Mask, who lives on the property and takes care of the rescue horses there, said it appears none of the cats that died suffered.

"They were all in their beds, like they were asleep," Mask said.

A San Mateo organization is expected to arrive this week with food for the animals and for the volunteers, Mask said.

"The response has been wonderful," Mask said. "Everyone's phones are ringing nonstop."

Schmitz's daughter, Mona, started the cat sanctuary with her mother a few years ago. In 2008, Mona was murdered and Schmitz took over her daughter's dream.

After working long hours to take care of the sanctuary animals and her two young granddaughters, Schmitz said she is humbled by the positive response from the community.

"I can't believe the amount of people that showed up to help us," Schmitz said. "Hopefully something like this will never happen again."

Despite the fire and the loss of animals, Mask said she believes something good will come out of it.

"These cats didn't die in vain," Mask said. "They died for Mona and her dream."

Reporter Carol Reiter can be reached at (209) 385-2486 or creiter@mercedsun-star.com.

How to help

The Last Hope Cat Kingdom still needs items to help the cats and dogs that are left at the sanctuary. Canned cat food, cat litter and monetary donations are especially needed. For more information, call (209) 631-8330.