A recent article in The New York Times highlights some amazing work being done by dedicated California animal advocates.

Many pet cats fled their homes during the devastating wildfires that swept through Sonoma County.  Quite a few of these cats remain missing.

A woman named Jennifer Petruska has made it her mission to track these cats down every night since the fires.  So far, she and her team have found more than 70 cats, but they believe dozens more remain lost.

This volunteer group calls itself Pet Rescue & Reunification.  They set up night vision cameras and traps with food in places the lost cats are thought to be hiding.  The traps are checked every hour until morning.

Many people who lost their homes and all their possessions in the fires are still heartsick over the loss of their cats.  Animal experts say that cats flee danger by instinct and can survive in hiding for weeks.  This gives rescuers and owners hope that the cats are still alive.

A few found cats have yet to be claimed by anyone and are being housed at the Sonoma County Animal Services Department.

Images:  Jim Wilson/The New York Times.