As a fire swept through the abandoned garage in East New York that Scarlett and her brood of five young kittens called home, Ladder Company 75 worked to put out the flame and fireman David Gianelli witnesses a remarkable sight: the mother cat venturing back into the fire, oblivious to the danger, to bring each of her kittens to safety. Her eyes blistered shut and her paws burned from making the trip five times, she then counted her litter, touching each one with her nose to make sure they were safe.
Scarlett Saves Her Family is an account of this amazing cat, her brave rescue operation, and the many people whose lives she touched with her extraordinary act. With a gritty Scarlett at its center, this tribute features first-hand accounts from the fireman who rescued her, the dedicated staff and veterinarians of the North Shore Animal League where mother and babies were nursed back to health, compassionate well-wishers from around the world, and the new owners who were chosen from hundreds who volunteered to give Scarlett and her kittens permanent homes. But this is more than a celebrity biography. It's the story of how one small cat has become a banner for the plight of countless homeless animals. And Scarlett's story has also brought a new dimension to our understanding of animal behavior. We've all heard stories of animal courage, but none as poignant or as harrowing as Scarlett's. Accompanied by tender photographs of the feline principals, their caretakers, and the many fans their story has touched, this charming scrapbook of a heroine's life reminds us of what mother love, and life, are all about.
