More than 30 cats and kittens were pulled from an abandoned boat anchored off Owen Beach after Tacoma police found the animals living in unsafe conditions with no owner in sight.
The Tacoma Police Department's Marine Services Unit responded Thursday, Aug. 6, to reports of a deserted vessel in the waters near the beach in Point Defiance Park, KOMO News reported. Officers aboard the TPD patrol boat Chinook discovered dozens of cats free-roaming inside the craft.
Many were frightened and malnourished.
The rescue stretched across two days, with officers from the Marine Services Unit, Animal Control and the department's Forensics Unit working together to safely remove every animal. Police said the operation continued into Friday, Aug. 7, with crews expected on the water most of the day.
The department shared updates publicly after community members spotted the crews working offshore and began asking questions. The Tacoma News Tribune described the scene as a "ghost ship," and the paper's headline likened it to a Studio Ghibli movie. Reporter Bonny Matejowsky covered the story for the Tribune.
The Tacompton community Facebook page, which monitors local scanner traffic, posted about the discovery Friday morning, noting that radio chatter mentioned Animal Control loading cat carriers onto the police boat. That post cited 40-plus cats aboard the vessel; police have confirmed more than 30.
"A Catastrophe of sorts. Yesterday, the TPD boat Chinook checked on an anchored boat near Owen Beach, to find 30+ cats inside." >— Tacompton community Facebook page, Aug. 7
Tacoma police confirmed that every cat and kitten was being safely removed from the boat. No information has been released about the vessel's owner or whether an animal cruelty investigation is underway.
How to help
The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County is the local organization that receives animals from Tacoma Animal Control operations. Residents interested in fostering can visit the shelter's foster program page for details on becoming a caregiver.
The Humane Society has not yet confirmed publicly how many cats it received from the boat or when they might become available for adoption. Residents should check the organization's website for updates.
