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Calif. fire dept. fights to keep station cat after complaint

San Francisco Fire Department Station 49 was told to “get rid of the cat” after an anonymous complaint was filed with the city

By News Staff

SAN FRANCISCO — A fire station crew is fighting to keep their beloved cat after an anonymous complaint was filed with the city.

SF Gate reported that the firefighters and EMS providers of San Francisco Fire Department Station 49 was given a deadline to find another place for Edna, a feral cat that became a part of the firehouse four years ago.

The station was told to “get rid of the cat,” or else animal control would intervene.

The station sent an email to SF Gate explaining how Edna became a part of the firehouse family.

“We slowly started to show her love and care, and she [became] our family,” the email read. “Now she is always there, and is the most docile, loving baby. We take her to the vet now, give her treats and she calls our station home now. As I’m sure you can imagine, our jobs are very, very stressful. A lot of us see Edna as our little stress unit.”

Edna has her own Instagram account, and first responders are now using it to rally support from the community with the hashtag #EdnaStays.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Btr3BTXlG5P/

“We have just been asking people to make some noise so we can put up a decent fight to keep one of our valued members,” the email read.

Many social media users expressed their shock over the issue.

“When I have a bad day, coming home to my pets is the best thing I could ask for,” a commenter wrote. “With ... all the firefighting and emergency runs, I would think the higher ups would realize how valuable the kitty is to these brave people. There’s nothing more relaxing than a kitty in your lap purring.”

“It is a proven fact cats provide companionship to those who save the public, but are a release of stress the firefighters and EMTs need after losing a human in a fire or accident,” another comment read. “The stress that happens in the human body is real bad and a cat will love on them and provide the stress releasing [hormones] to keep them strong and healthy. I for one protest their plans of eviction of Edna unless of course they would like to rub the firefighters and EMT’s shoulders and chase the rats and mice that inhibit the station themselves.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtpOaYGF1qJ/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs_twOcFb51/

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