CITY OFFICIALS UNDER FIRE - Displaced by Fire, Residents Demand City Try to Rescue Pets Left to Die
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Displaced residents stand outside of 660 East 187 Street as they rally to get the city to enter the building and rescue at least 7 cats left behind after the fire.—Photo by David Greene
By David Greene
Bronx Voice
May 9, 2026
BRONX , NY - Animal rights advocates joined displaced family members outside of 660 East 187 Street that was destroyed in a five-alarm fire on April 21—Family members are demanding that city officials enter the building and rescue at least 7 cats that were left behind and now trapped behind a temporary barricade that surrounds the front of the building.
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| Officials saved one cat on the 16th day after the 5-alarm fire and recovered the body of one dog that was returned to its grieving family.—Photo by David Greene |
Speaking to the residents outside of their former building, Rachel Ejsmont of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) told anxious pet owners as city officials were discussing a potential rescue, “Let us in. Somebody get in, let the trappers go inside to have some results.” She added, “For two weeks there’s been zero results and the families have not heard a thing.”
Using a bullhorn, Ejsmont led the crowd in chants of, “FDNY do your job,” and “Let them in!” City officials from New York City Emergency Management, FDNY, NYPD, Department of Buildings and Animal Care Centers of New York City (ACC) then moved from the corner of East 187 Street down Cambreleng Avenue.
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Officials from the Animal Care Centers of New York City bring traps in an effort to rescue at least seven cats missing since the fire broke out 16 days earlier.—Photo by David Greene
Eventually, an official from the DOB and two trappers from ACC entered the building an soon returned with a red tabby cat to the applause of the crowd.
Officials are expected to return to the building today to check the animal traps to see if any other animals were captured overnight.
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