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'I hope and pray nobody is dead in there.' Detroit responds to vacant house on verge of collapse, MHS team rescues cats before demolition

Posted at 6:25 PM, Dec 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-18 18:38:31-05

DETROIT (WXYZ) — "I hope and pray nobody is dead in there," said Deveron Norman about the vacant house next to her home where she and her husband have lived in for 30 years.

Deveron leaves food on the porch of the vacant house for some of the stray cats in the neighborhood, including at least one cat that Deveron says is pregnant again.

Deveron says the house has been empty for about ten years.

It's located in the area of 7 Mile Road and Mound on Detroit's east side. A quick records search shows the crumbling house is owned by the Detroit Land Bank.

7 Action News contacted city officials and sent them a photo that shows a wall of the back of the house is now resting on the fence around the home where the Normans reside.

Ray Solomon, General Manager of Detroit's Department of Neighborhoods tells 7 Action News that funding is available for emergency demolitions only.

Solomon said the vacant house next to the Normans qualifies as an emergency and it will take no more than two weeks to bring it down. We're told it could be demolished as early as Friday.

7 Action News reached out to the Michigan Humane Society and they quickly responded to rescue four cats including the two that appear to be pregnant. They are now under the care of veterinarians at MHS.

If Detroit residents are aware of a dangerous house near them, they are urged to contact their district manager.

Here is a list of district managers for the City of Detroit:

DON Card Oct. 2019 by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd