A cat named Harbor became the first of 61 animals rescued from a sailboat near Point Defiance to be adopted, and on Friday, Aug. 21, the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County is waiving all adoption fees thanks to a grant from the ASPCA.

Harbor's adoption on Thursday, Aug. 20, marked a milestone in a saga that began Aug. 6, when Tacoma police and animal control officers discovered dozens of cats aboard a 40-foot sailboat anchored off Point Defiance. The multiday rescue operation ultimately removed 61 cats from the vessel.

As we reported Aug. 19, the influx pushed the shelter past capacity, with nearly 200 cats on-site. Humane Society spokesperson Stefanie Cornell told the Tacoma Weekly on Aug. 19 that the sailboat cats "seem to be doing relatively well, especially considering where they came from," though at that point none were yet cleared for adoption.

The next day, the first went home.

The boat's owner, Derek Hieb, 62, surrendered the cats to Animal Control. He told The Seattle Times in August that he worked "hand to mouth" as a rigger and couldn't afford to spay and neuter the animals. The case has been forwarded to the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for a charging decision.

Cats from the rescue are listed on the Humane Society's website with "Sailor Cat" before their name. Not all 61 are available yet; the remaining 23 are still in foster care receiving veterinary attention. Staff said the rescued cats ranged from about seven months to five or six years old, and many arrived dehydrated, thin and flea-ridden.

The Humane Society is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fee waiver on Aug. 21 applies to all pets, not just the sailboat cats.