How Police Saved A Michigan Man's Cat From A Devastating Fire

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — Just weeks before Christmas, Farmington Hills resident Scott Sinischo lost nearly everything in an apartment fire. His apartment was left charred, covered in soot and smoke. His two cats perished in the fire. Sinischo had lost everything.

That is, until a Farmington Hills Firefighter went an extra step to recover Sinischo's life. What he was able to recover was even more valuable than Sinischo could have imagined: one of his cats was still alive inside the burned down home.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, about 40,000 pets die in residential fires each year, mostly from smoke inhalation. While people often believe that animals run out during a house fire, the vast majority hide someplace they consider safe instead of escaping during the emergency.

Sinischo's first cat, Ludwig, was unable to make it in the fire, authorities said. But his second cat, Pearl, was rescued by Police Officer Timothy Sjostrom, who re-entered the apartment in a final effort to locate Pearl just in case she had gone into hiding.

It turned out his hunch was correct; Pearl was under the bed in the back bedroom covered in ashes, disoriented, and suffering from smoke inhalation.

Authorities said that upon seeing Officer Sjostrom, the terrified cat crawled inside the bed’s foundation, which had a small hole in the fabric underneath. But Officer Sjostrom, with assistance from Officer Zachary Kosal, tore away the remaining fabric, secured Pearl, and placed her in a pet carrier.

Pearl and owner Scott Sinischo were then transported in a police cruiser to the Blue Pearl Pet Hospital, a 24-hour emergency veterinary service located nearby in Southfield, where the cat received the urgent care needed to save her life.

The rescued pet is now on her way to a full recovery, authorities said and together, Sinischo and Pearl are starting over.

This month Pearl and owner Scott Sinischo stopped by the police station to thank Officer Sjostrom in person.

“Pearl was minutes from death,” said Sinischo. “She wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the actions of Officer Timothy Sjostrom.”

Farmington Hills officers are proud of their work.

“This is just another example of a Farmington Hills Police Officer going above and beyond,” said Police Commander Bonnie Unruh. “Officer Sjostrom saw the urgency of the situation and responded with professionalism and compassion.”