3 hungry cats survive week in Burnsville apartment ruins

Last update: December 30, 2008 - 10:50 PM

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If anybody's keeping score, it's one life down and eight to go. Times three.

Three smoky cats were found alive Monday from the rubble of the Burncliff Apartments building destroyed last week by a fire in Burnsville.

"They reeked of smoke and their coats were a little dull," said Dave Bornhofen, owner of the American Boarding Kennels in Burnsville, where the cats were taken after they were rescued. "They were not malnourished, but they were hungry. They were roughing it for the past week."

The three were pulled from the rubble by a representative of a security company at the apartment complex and by the city's fire marshal. Cloe, Mr. Peepers and a black and white cat whose name was unknown were found around 4 p.m. in what was left of apartment 218. Two of the cats belonged to one resident, the third to another. They were cleaned and bathed before they were reunited with their owners Monday evening, Bornhofen said.

It's not clear how they survived the fire and a week on their own. The search for other pets lost in the massive fire continues, Bornhofen said.

TIM HARLOW