Seven cats, a small dog and a family with an elderly man on oxygen have Greenville residents Brittney Schmidt and Cheyenne Tyler to thank for their safety after the duo executed a series of rescues last week in New London.
While the Wolf River flooded the small community on the Outagamie/Waupaca county line, Schmidt and Tyler searched strangers’ homes for lost, confused, shivering and scared pets, at times walking through as much as three feet of water. They also used kayaks, nets, kennels, a canoe and many donated items to fuel their rescue efforts.
Schmidt and Tyler were not even phased by the fact that they’re allergic to cats.
When began evacuations on April 15, Schmidt and Tyler posted on the New London Wisconsin Happenings Facebook group that they wanted to help in any way possible. Maybe they could temporarily house reptiles or small caged pets, they thought.
But after logging about 20 miles in a 12-hour day on April 16 rescuing pets, they became the go-to duo. Word got out, strangers reached out to them, and they kept going. It turns out, several pet owners, for one reason or another, had left animals behind in the rush to leave, and were desperate for help.
“We were a little overwhelmed and scared,” said Tyler. “We just wanted people and their pets to be saved.”
Reuniting Sullivan the cat with his six-year-old owner
Their first rescue was a cat named Sullivan.
When his owner, Dana Radtke, received the evacuation alert on April 15, she packed her bags, alongside her mother and her six-year-old son, and left their New London home. But Sullivan snuck out on his own.
They wanted to go back and look for him later that night, but the bridges to get to their home were closed. After spending a terrified night worrying about Sullivan and asking people to put food out for them, they saw Tyler and Schmidt’s post and reached out. Tyler said Radke was afraid Sullivan was not going to make it.
Tyler and Schmidt walked through the flooded area, found the house and called out to Sullivan. Finally, they heard a tiny meow and spotted the grey and white tuxedo cat. When they were two feet from him, talking to him calmly and attempting to soothe him, Sullivan – who does not care for strangers – jumped off the back porch into the water and started to swim.
He made it to a window air conditioning unit and started to climb up the walls. Tyler and Schmidt used a big net, corralled him and got him into a kennel. Sullivan, by then, was howling, Tyler explained.
They walked through knee-high water to reunite him with his family, keeping his kennel out of the water.
“He made his voice known that he was not happy,” Schmidt said.
Nearly three miles later, Sullivan’s disgruntled meows turned to happy meows when his six-year-old owner, Roman, called his name.
“His whole demeanor changed,” said Tyler. Sullivan is doing well, said Radtke.
Rescuing two cats and military regalia
At the end of the first day, Tyler and Schmidt found themselves trying to reach a home on County Highway X, in search of two cats, whose owner was worried might have perished in the floodwaters. Fortunately, someone had a huge truck offered them a ride, and they were able to locate the cats, scared but alive. One was hiding in a couch and the other on a closet shelf.
As they were leaving, they noticed decades of military regalia, military medals and pictures all over their house. It was a no-brainer; they filled the truck with as many of their things as they could.
“We saved their cats and generations of memories,” Tyler said.
Day two included a dog, two cats, two guinea pigs and two more cats
On their second day, Tyler and Schmidt rescued a small dog, Rocky. As they reunited the dog with the owner, they learned the house was also home to two guinea pigs who were left behind. They managed to return to the home and retrieved the guinea pigs. Tyler and Schmidt took care of the dog, who is now housed in Green Bay, until there can be a safe reunification with the owner.
And there was another family, who had one dog and five cats. However, two of the cats got scared and hid well enough that the owners could not find them to take them with. Rescuers found them under the bed and couch.
“It was very scary for them. They vocalized their displeasures [over the situation],” said Schmidt. But they were safe, she said.
Despite searching for pets, the duo also rescued one man and his oxygen tank
As Tyler and Schmidt were heading to do a cat rescue, they were drawn into a detour when they saw a family with an elderly gentleman outside a home. The paramedics could not get to him – the water was too deep around his house.
The duo helped the man into the kayak and took him to the rescue workers.
Tyler and Schmidt did not go out again on April 18 as conditions became too cold, the water was rough, and it was unsafe. But if there is a need, they are definitely considering going out again after this week, they said.
There were no deceased pets, said Schmidt, and the community came together. “It was life-changing,” she said.
To donate to help separated pets
Schmidt, who is a receptionist at Wolf River Veterinary Clinic, said they are collecting pet food, supplies, and toys. For more information, call 920-982-2733 or visit 216 W. Wolf River Ave. in New London.
Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Greenville women save New London pets, elderly man from rising waters
Reporting by Cathy Kozlowicz, USA TODAY NETWORK – Wisconsin / Appleton Post-Crescent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
