SHERMAN, TX - A Sherman woman risked her life to try and save her cat in last weeks apartment fire in Sherman. After a week of searching for her pet, today that search ended with another loss for the family.

"I could have gotten her you know," said Linda Monson, one of the victims of last weeks apartment fire.

Monson rescued her cat Sassy from a shelter ten years ago. After a fire broke out in her apartment Monday she tried to save he beloved pet once again.

"When the smoke finally became so strong and I was just having to feel where I was, and they were demanding that I get out and it appears that's exactly where she was," Monson said.

Monson says Sassy was her best friend. She's spent every day since the fire looking through the rubble, calling for Sassy, and asking anyone willing to help.

"People say you need to move on," said Monson, "but at the same time if there's hope, you want to give your pet that chance."

Sadly, Monson's search came to an end this morning.

"I went in with two dogs and they both indicated that the best I can get is that the cat was in the worst burned section of the building," said dog handler Jim Younghusband, "and theirs nothing alive in there unfortunately."

Monson says the news is heartbreaking, but after a difficult week of searching, at least now she has closure.

"It was a relief to have the rescue dogs to come and do the search and have a final answer," Monson said.

And, although they haven't found the cat's body, they do believe it to be dead.