In Iowa, more than 20 cats were left inside a van in the hot sun for hours before being rescued by police and animal rescuers.
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) rescued 29 cats that were reportedly abandoned in a vehicle owned by 64-year-old Andres Enrique Guillartes Martinez.
In a statement, ARL said they found a group of cats fending for themselves inside the van and received a request for assistance from Mason City Police.
The 29 cats were denied food and water.
According to the team, the cats ate voraciously after arriving at the shelter. (Animal Rescue League of Iowa)
The cats were rescued and given medical treatment after this terrifying experience. (Animal Rescue League of Iowa)
ARL is When they arrived at the “heartbreaking” scene, temperatures were already over 90 degrees and the temperatures inside the enclosed van were life-threatening, they said.
“The situation was urgent … and when we opened the van doors we quickly realised the situation was even worse than we had anticipated,” they said.
A simple test for ammonia levels showed they were dangerously high, the researchers noted.
“Sadly, the cats weren't the only ones suffering from these toxic and quickly deadly conditions – their owners were also in the car,” ARL said. “It was a heartbreaking scene.”
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Some of the rescued cats were seriously injured or sick. (Animal Rescue League of Iowa)
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) Animal Welfare Response Team worked with Mason City Police to rescue approximately 30 cats that had been trapped inside the van. (Animal Rescue League of Iowa)
The rescue team said they transferred the innocent cats to an air-conditioned vehicle and took them back to the ARL facility.
The cats were given food and water and were evaluated by staff.
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Some of the cats were seriously injured or sick, the group said, including two with deep wounds around their necks after something had been wrapped tightly around them.
Andres Enrique Guillartes Martinez, 64, was arrested by Mason City Police and charged with three counts of animal cruelty. (Cerro Gordo County Jail)
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Martinez was arrested by Mason City Police and charged with three counts of animal cruelty for his alleged role in the incident.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Mason City Police Department for comment.
