CALUMET TOWNSHIP | When Joyce Fairbairn died May 14, she was survived by more than 21 cats and a dog -- creating a challenge for local animal shelter officials this weekend in dealing with the sudden volume of homeless animals.

Fairbairn, 99, lived with the animals in her 47th Avenue home in Calumet Township. A neighbor is being credited for helping rescue the animals, region animal shelter officials said Tuesday.

When notified of her neighbor's death, Donna Doyle said she knew there were animals in the house that needed to be fed, so she went to check on them. Doyle said Fairbairn had told her there were seven cats in the house, so when she entered the home, the number of animals surprised her.

"It was like something you would see on TV," Doyle said.

Doyle, the owner of a cat and dog herself, began calling animal shelters with another neighbor, hoping to find one that would take the pets.

Lake County Animal Control Director Matt Lubarski said his office responded to a call May 14 about a dog at the home. He said the dog was blind, old and a veterinarian decided it was best to euthanize the animal.

Tony Villarreal, the intake coordinator at the Humane Society Calumet Area, said someone brought 21 cats to the facility at 421 45th Ave. in Munster Saturday afternoon. At least one cat may still be in the house.

Lab technician Jackie Goralczyk said the cats were healthy, and some were missing a few teeth. All 21 of the cats had been spayed or neutered, which surprised Humane Society employees.

Villarreal said all of the cats are vaccinated, affixed with special microchips that help identify lost animals and are ready for adoption.

Doyle described Fairbairn, who the Lake County coroner confirmed died of natural causes, as an animal lover, remembering a time when the woman took in a black cat who had been discarded. The cat had been declawed and wouldn't have been able to survive in the wild.

"She loved them. She fed them better than I feed mine," Doyle said.