The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is investigating the death of more than 20 cats in a house fire in Perth Amboy.
An animal control officer demonstrated in 2006 the animal resuscitation masks used to save cats in a Perth Amboy fire Monday. That fire is now under investigation by NJSPCA. PERTH AMBOY -- The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is investigating the death of more than 20 cats in a house fire in Perth Amboy.
Dozens more cats were rescued with the help of animal resuscitators.
Matt Stanton, a spokesman the NJSPCA, said the agency is also investigating the presence of more than 40 cats in the house on Barry Avenue.
"We are actively investigating the situation," Stanton said.
Perth Amboy Fire Chief Abraham Pitre said his department received the call at 1:11 p.m. Monday and arrived to find flames and smoke in the right rear of the one-story house in the area of the kitchen.
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Pitre said cats were trying to escape, many of them disoriented.
He said as soon as the firefighters opened the doors of the house, cats came out.
"We used animal resuscitation equipment that was donated to us last year and 25 to 28 survived," the chief said, adding more than 20 probably died in the blaze.
Pitre said no one was at home at the time.
He said the owner of the cats, "was taking in strays and using her own money to take care of them and put them up for adoption."
"It's just a shame," Pitre said.
The surviving cats were taken to the Perth Amboy Animal Shelter.
"We wish we could have saved more (of the cats)," Pitre said. "Those units were great."
The chief said two of the animal resuscitation units were donated last year, but he plans to buy one or two more out of his pocket for the department.
The kits have different sized tubing and masks to fit different size animals and fit onto the oxygen masks carried by the departments.
Meanwhile, the surviving cats are being treated at the city shelter.
Shelter officials said the owner did not want to be identified or discuss talk about her cats.
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
