Car crashes into Oakdale animal rescue, killing one cat and letting several escape

An Oakdale animal rescue is closed to the public after a car slammed into its building over the weekend, killing one cat and sending several others fleeing.

The ASTRO Foundation in Oakdale, a non-profit animal rescue focusing on cats and dogs, said Sunday that a car had crashed into their facility.

Megan Scoullar, the foundation's director of adoption services, said she was in the back of the N. 5th Avenue building when she heard glass shatter.

"I just heard glass breaking, and I thought maybe a kennel crashed over," Scoullar said. "I ran up, and there was a car in the community cat room."

Inside the room were about 15 cats and a volunteer sitting inches from where the car came to a stop. Police say the driver accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake after pulling into the parking lot with mechanical issues.

One cat was struck and had to be euthanized. Six others escaped through the hole in the wall. As of Monday, three have been found, but three are still missing.

The destroyed room was the foundation's only space for cage-free cats, where visitors could spend time with animals before adoption. Since 2012, the Astro Foundation has rescued thousands of cats and dogs across Oakdale, Riverbank, and Escalon. It also operates a trap-neuter-return program for community cats and a "Happy Pets Pantry" that provides food to families in need.

Now, staff are asking for foster families, donations, and community support as they work to recover.

"Just because this has happened doesn't mean animals stop needing us," Scoullar said. "We still need places to put them, and we still need support."

The foundation says it's not yet clear how much of the damage will be covered by insurance.

A donor is offering a $100 reward for each cat to be returned, the rescue said. 

• Stanislaus County
• Oakdale