FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (WWJ) -- When Scott Sinischo returned home to his Farmington Hills apartment to find it had been destroyed by fire on Dec. 14, he feared the worst for his two beloved cats.
As the apartment was charred and covered in soot and smoke, Sinischo learned his cat Ludwig had not survived the fire and he was unable to locate his other cat, Pearl. He assumed she'd suffered the same fate in the fire.
Farmington Hills Fire Department personnel were completing the fire investigation when police officer Timothy Sjostrom decided to enter the apartment one final time in search of Pearl. The American Veterinary Medical Association says about 40,000 pets die in residential fires each year, mostly from smoke inhalation. Many people often believe that animals run out during a house fire, but the vast majority hide someplace they consider safe instead of escaping during the emergency.
When Sjostrom made one last pass through the apartment, he discovered that Pearl, too, had gone into hiding.
She was found under the bed in the back bedroom, covered in ashes, disoriented and suffering from smoke inhalation.
Upon seeing Sjostrom, the terrified cat crawled inside the bed's foundation through a smal hole in the fabric underneath. Sjostrom and another officer, Zachary Kosal, tore away the remaining fabric, secured the cat and put her in a pet carrier.
Police drover Sinischo and Pearl to the Blue Pearl Pet Hospital, a 24-hour emergency vet in nearby Southfield.
Pearl received the much-needed urgent care and is now on her way to a full recovery, police said.
"This is just another example of a Farmington Hills Police Officer going above and beyond," said Unruh. "Officer Sjostrom saw the urgency of the situation and responded with professionalism and compassion," Police Commander Bonnie Unruh said of Sjostrom's response to the fire.
Sinischo and Pearl visited Farmington Hills police earlier this week and thanks Sjostrom in person.
"Pearl was minutes from death," Sinischo said. "She wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the actions of Officer Timothy Sjostrom."
