Texas Officer Jumps Into Action To Save 45 Cats From A Burning Shelter

We’ve all been asked that classic question at some point: What would you grab first if your house was on fire? 

Some people answer with their phone, others mention family heirlooms or a treasured photo album. But for those who share their lives with pets, the answer often comes instantly—their cats or dogs would always come first.

For one man in Laredo, Texas, this “what if” scenario became all too real, animal Control Officer Jose Aranda found himself in the middle of a terrifying emergency. 

A fire had broken out at the city’s animal shelter, leaving dozens of cats trapped inside their cages with no way out.

Aranda had only been in his role as an Animal Control Officer for four months, after working more than a decade in various other jobs. 

But despite being relatively new to the field, he didn’t hesitate when he spotted smoke rising from the shelter’s roof. Without waiting for backup or instructions, he ran straight toward the danger.

Inside, the situation was grim. The building filled with smoke, the air thick and suffocating. Dozens of cats sat in stainless steel cages, meowing desperately as the fire spread. Aranda later recalled to the Laredo Morning Times:

“I proceeded to open the door and saw a bunch of cats there, so I started releasing the cats before they got burned.”

One by one, he opened the cages and guided the terrified cats to safety, ignoring the rising heat and smoke around him. 

His focus was entirely on the lives in front of him. Though he had contacted the local fire department, by the time firefighters arrived at the scene, Aranda had already freed all 45 cats and moved them to safety.

The heroic act, however, took its toll. After making sure every animal was out of danger, Aranda began feeling lightheaded from the smoke he had inhaled and the extreme heat he had endured. 

He was quickly hospitalized for observation and treated for dizziness caused by exposure. Thankfully, he recovered well and was discharged later that night, around 3 a.m.

While in the hospital, he called his six-year-old son on FaceTime. The little boy had been anxious about his father but lit up when he learned of the cats his dad had saved.

“He was very happy that I saved the cats. He loves cats, we have two at home,” Aranda shared.

Looking back, Aranda admitted that many others in his position might have chosen to wait outside for firefighters. He reflected honestly:

“I love my job. I think that if I was another person, I probably wouldn’t have gone in to save these animals. I could’ve easily waited outside until they (fire department) came, and God would have known what could have happened to those cats.”

Even after the fire, Aranda’s commitment didn’t stop. He urged people in his community to consider adopting from the shelter, turning a tragedy into an opportunity to find the cats permanent homes. 

“Whoever is looking to adopt a cat or a dog, we have plenty of options to choose from. It’s open to the public, and it’s free adoption, and they’ll get spayed and neutered. So, I think it’s a win-win for everybody. I encourage everyone to come out here and see if they’ll adopt one,” he said.

His bravery did not go unnoticed. Just ten days after the fire, Mayor Pete Saenz and the City Council honoured Aranda at City Hall with a Certificate of Recognition for saving the lives of 45 cats. 

Local news outlet KGNS went a step further, declaring him a Hometown Hero.

Aranda may have only been on the job a few months, but on that night, he proved what true dedication looks like.

For the cats he saved, and for the community that witnessed his courage, he will always be remembered as the man who ran into the flames rather than standing by.