FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE CATS FROM LOCKED PICK-UP TRUCK

Joshua Tree firefighters rescued three cats that had been accidentally locked in a pick-up truck Monday morning. County Fire Captain Donnie Viloria said a little after 10 a.m., a worker at the Animal Action League accidentally locked the truck’s keys inside the pick-up truck, with three cats, contained in carriers inside a camper shell. After trying unsuccessfully to unlock the truck, the employee called Triple A, and then, not knowing how long it would take for Triple A to show up, the fire department as well. Firefighters arrived about 10:40 and struggled for about 10 minutes to unlock the truck but were unsuccessful. Triple A arrived and was also unable to unlock the truck. Finally, firefighters forced open the sliding windows in the camper shell and a firefighter crawled through to rescue the cats. Viloria said the cats were extremely hot and unhappy, but recovered, and added, had the temperature been any hotter, the outcome may not have been as successful.