4 Cats Found in Rescue Efforts in Aftermath of East Village Explosion, 4 Cats, 1 Dog Still Missing

Kathleen and Kitty Cordelia
Kathleen and Kitty Cordelia

Yvonne Collery’s apartment at 125 Second Avenue was being used “24/7 as a lookout” for fire fighter and rescue efforts following the tragic explosion that occurred last Thursday in the East Village. On Monday, she asked two fire chiefs if they would bring her ID and some clothing from the apartment as she was still not allowed to enter. Deputy Chief Brosi was the one who brought the items to her. He approached and said, “Let me ask you, do you have any interest in the cat that’s hiding in a closet?”

Laszlo was found! Her other cat, Lulu, remained missing at that point.

ASPCA first tells residents after initial quick sweep of building: “There’s absolutely no pets in the building”

According to Yvonne, the ASPCA went through the building looking for animals on Saturday, two days after the explosion, at her building (where many of the missing cats are from) – doing “a quick sweep.” They came back to the residents and said, “There’s absolutely no pets in the building.” On Monday, after Laszlo was found in the building, this may have inspired them to take another look. On Tuesday, the ASPCA and a police officer found Kathleen Blomberg’s two cats, Sebastian and Kitty Cordelia, hiding under the bed in her apartment.

Four cats have now been found that were missing at 125 Second Avenue. There are additional animals still being searched for.

Yvonne said, “There are two cats missing from the completely demolished buildings. Those are the ones they should have been looking for first.” These two cats are Leather-Face from 123 Second Avenue and Sylvie from 119 Second Avenue, both buildings came down at some point after the explosion.

Residents believed that McSorley’s, which has a backyard court yard, might be a likely place for some of the cats to take refuge and suggested placing cat traps there but the ASPCA and ACC (Animal Care & Control) did not follow through on the suggestion.

Yvonne’s other cat, Lulu, remained missing until yesterday when Yvonne was able to get permission to go back inside 125 Second Avenue for ten minutes with the fire chief. Remembering that Lulu would sometimes climb up the back of the bedroom bureau and hide in the drawers, she realized this might be where she was hiding. Blown out windows were stacked against the bureau. “I pulled out the windows. I pulled out the drawers and I found her!”

When she told the fire fighters, one said, “No way! No Way!” Lulu was so scared that “It took all three of us to get her into the cat carrier.”

Four Cats Still Missing, Possibly One Dog — This is Sylvie :

Sylvie, 119 second avenue, is missing
Sylvie, 119 second Avenue, is missing

Last tally of missing animals was initially seven cats missing, four have been found. But the number of missing cats has gone up by one with the news that cat Sylvie, pictured above, is missing from 119 Second Avenue, a building which ultimately came down.

Tortoiseshell Sylvie is the cat of Matt and Nora Brooks who were at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at the time the explosion happened. Their roommate tried to pick up the feline but she couldn’t grab her; the short time she had she was only able to get her sneakers and flee.

Matt wrote, “I don’t have a lot of hope, but this is our Sylvie who was in the apartment when disaster hit.”

Here is hoping for Sylvie.

Ryce is Still Missing
Ryce is Still Missing

Ryce, a cat who “crawls into your heart” and is “a good hider,” still missing from 125 Second Avenue

Ryce is an eleven month old feline who lives with Kayoko, her husband Stu and 12 year old daughter Hannah at 125 Second Avenue. The 11 month old cat has been with the family since she was 6 weeks old; they adopted her from outside nearby Whiskers pet store from a woman who rescues cats in Queens.

At the point they were allowed back into their apartment after the explosion, they only had ten minutes in the apartment with a police officer outside monitoring. They were able to grab their other cat, Muffin, but Ryce went into hiding.

“Ryce is so fast,” Kayoko explained. “It’s a small apartment but sometimes we can’t find Ryce. She is a good hider and not a big cat. She can make herself very flat. Other apartment doors are open in the building so it is possible she could be in another apartment.” She said the ASPCA placed cat traps around the building with food and also powder on the floor “so we may be able to see a footprint.”

Stuart woke up in the middle of the night thinking of a place where Ryce might be hiding. “Next door at 123 Second Avenue there is a broken window where there is an airshaft and a tiny, tiny space,” Kayoko said. “My husband thinks maybe she jumped into that area. We are going to attempt to get access to the area today.

“Half of the area around 7th Street is closed off but buses go by, traffic goes by. So it is approachable but there is a big high wall [around the explosion site],” Kayoko explained.

Lack of Immediate Media Attention to Plight of Animals

The explosion, the result of a gas leak caused by dubious circumstances, occurred Thursday, March 26th at 121 Second Avenue, and impacted nearby buildings. 119 and 123 Second Avenue ultimately came down.

There was very little media attention about missing animals in the days following the explosion and no mention by public officials of their plight.

Yvonne Collery, guardian to found cats Laszlo and Lulu, confirmed the lack of media interest and said for days she and others tried to get news outlets to report on the missing and possibly hurt building animals. Yvonne said she could understand maybe not immediately covering the issue but she was as baffled as I was in the lack of media interest and follow-through. Finally, the media is now reporting on the missing – and found – animals.

Yvonne said that Laszlo and Lulu have “PTSD” (post traumatic stress disorder) and are both going to the veterinarian today to get their lungs checked for smoke inhalation on the advice of a vet who wrote her a note suggesting she do so.

Also missing are cats Leather-Face from 123 Second Avenue and Sago from a building nearby. It has been said a dog, a pit-bull named Pepper, is also missing. It is possible there are other animals missing or not reported.

Miracles

“I lost everything but I have my cats,” Yvonne said.

Kathleen, whose cat friends Sebastian and Kitty Cordelia were found, said, “I now believe in miracles.”

Let’s hope for miracles for Ryce, Sylvie, Leather-Face, Sago, and Pepper and any other animals who may be missing or injured.

*   *   *

Media:

New York Daily News, Cats lost in East Village gas explosion reunited with their owners April 1, 2015

The Villager piece by Yvonne Collery, How One Cat Survived the Second Avenue Catastrophe, April 2, 2015

Previously at Washington Square Park Blog:

Impact of East Village Explosion on Building Animals — At least 7 Cats and 1 Dog Known Missing March 31, 2015

Missing Animals from East Village Explosion: 7 Cats from Buildings Unaccounted for, Likely More | Plight of Animals Omitted from Media Reports March 29, 2015

Lovely Cats Still Missing:

Lovely Leather-Face is Missing Too
Lovely Leather-Face is Missing Too
Beloved cat Sago missing
Beloved cat Sago missing

Information on the missing dog has not been as readily available.

Top photo Kathleen with Kitty Cordelia: ASPCA

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4 thoughts on “4 Cats Found in Rescue Efforts in Aftermath of East Village Explosion, 4 Cats, 1 Dog Still Missing”

  1. You’re doing a much needed community service with these posts, and I’ve pointed other local people who’ve expressed concern to this blog. Here’s hoping for more good news in the very near future.

    Reply
  2. we are so sorry for the tragedy of this explosion we’re glad the people got out and we do pray you find all your little cats best of luck to everyone

    Reply
    • Hi Jymmi,

      Thanks for writing. Yes, it is all very sad. Unfortunately, two people did die but many were able to escape. Appreciate the prayers for the remaining animals.

      best to you –

      Cathryn

      Reply

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