On Friday night, an operation coordinated by the Cartagena City Council rescued 24 cats found crammed into carriers inside some ruined buildings in the La Asomada area. Several residents walking in the area alerted animal welfare organizations, who in turn contacted the City Council. Health personnel, local police, Civil Protection, the Animur Federation of Animal Shelters, and numerous volunteers went to the scene, removed the cats, and took them to a designated area in the Security Park.
According to municipal sources, some of the carriers held up to six animals , indicating extreme overcrowding. The cats underwent triage and veterinary assessment over the weekend, where symptoms of malnutrition and mobility difficulties were detected, likely caused by prolonged immobilization. The Councilor for Health and Animal Welfare, Belén Romero, thanked everyone involved for their cooperation and emphasized that "the priority was to ensure the animals' care from the very beginning."
Condition of the animals and shelter
Following initial assessments, 20 of the cats were taken into homes managed by animal shelters , while the remaining four, who shared a single carrier, were admitted to the City Council's Domestic Animal Shelter and Treatment Center (CATAD). Veterinarians observed that some of the felines had muscle problems in their hind legs, consistent with the length of time they had been confined. Despite this, the animals displayed a docile temperament, leading the shelters to believe they may have previously lived with people and did not come from cat colonies.
Investigation and complaint to the Prosecutor's Office
The circumstances that led to the animals being left in those conditions are currently unknown. The Local Police have opened an investigation to try to identify the person responsible for abandoning the dogs and cats , and animal welfare organizations have announced they will file a complaint with the Public Prosecutor's Office so that the facts can be investigated and any potential liability determined. Councilwoman Belén Romero reiterated that the City Council continues to strengthen the municipal animal protection network and improve its facilities to care for abandoned or at-risk animals.
The response from individuals and collaborating organizations has been key to finding temporary homes for most of the cats. The coordination between municipal services and animal shelters has allowed the 24 felines to be rescued and begin their recovery, as the councilwoman emphasized. She oversaw the operation throughout the weekend and personally attended the veterinary inspection on Sunday. The animals will now remain under veterinary supervision, and once recovered, their permanent homes will be sought.
