SAN DIEGO — Three cats have been rescued from an old, vacant Coco's Restaurant building in College Grove.
CBS 8 first brought you this story on Friday of cats stuck inside an old, abandoned building.
Laura Hiltz runs Crazy Cat Lady Rescue. Hiltz and her team rescued three cats living inside the old restaurant.
Hiltz is afraid there are more inside, but legally, they can't go in because it’s private property and she's afraid of what might happen if no one gets to them in time.
"An officer told me there's live wiring there. If a homeless person gets in there and gets in the wrong place someone could die. Someone could get electrocuted. This is a hazard either way you look at it," Hiltz said.
Hiltz lives in the college area where she says this old building, once a Coco's Bakery and Restaurant, used to be an eyesore. Laura says it's not empty anymore.
"Probably due to homeless people and others breaking in and out, so now there's a cat colony in there. Some could need medical attention. Some could be dead. Some could be dying. Some could still be bottle feeding. I missed the mom. I was incorrect. Coco was very friendly and handleable. She's still a kitten. She is not the lactating mom," Hiltz said.
On Wednesday afternoon, we called the owner of the building to get answers and an update. The property owners have been connected with The San Diego Humane Society and their law enforcement officers have come out to investigate.
"The Humane officers have gone inside and justified their presence. Along with rats, mice, and God knows whatever else. I've seen at least 4. Where there's four, there's always more because there are always some that are more hidey than others," Hiltz said.
Now that Hiltz and her group of volunteers were able to rescue some of the cats from the exterior, she wants to get inside the building and help rescue more.
"I don't know what they will do with the building. If they tear it down, we're screwed. If they do something else with it, we're screwed. Either way, we have to get the cats out of there," she said.
CBS 8 reached out to the Humane Society and they said,
“San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement had two officers visit the former Coco’s property today. The property has a missing window now, which allows cats to go in and out. There are gates and traps set up inside the building. There is also food inside the building for the cats. Our officers did not see any cats today, but they could be hiding inside or have gone out. We will continue to work with the property management company and revisit this site until we know no more cats are inside the building."
Hiltz says the cats may have to be rerooted or find another home because they are feral and might not be eligible for adoption. However, if after inspection, the cats can be adopted, they'll need a foster or permanent home and lots of love. Otherwise, Laura says the cats will be fixed and released.
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