Who dumped these kittens in the garbage?
By Eva Ferguson, Postmedia
First posted: Friday, September 02, 2016 03:34 PM EDT | Updated: Friday, September 02, 2016 06:09 PM EDT
The Calgary Humane Society is looking for the public’s help in identifying the owner of four kittens found abandoned in a sealed box in the city’s southeast.
Brad Nichols, senior manager with the society’s cruelty investigations unit, said that while abandoning kittens is not uncommon, he is particularly concerned the kittens were purposely trapped in a closed container.
“Unfortunately the abandonment of kittens, or cats, is something we do see,” said Nichols. “People will either leave them at a residence that they’ve left, or release them onto the streets. At least with that, and with cats in particular, the chance of survival is pretty good.”
“But to put them in a sealed box, where there is no chance of escape, that is intent to harm and that becomes a criminal case. They were actually very lucky to be found.”
Shelley Rudd, customer service manager with Alberta Home Services, helped retrieve the kittens from the dumpster when an employee reported them to her.
“The kittens were very scared, very wild. And they were hot and very distressed,” she said.
“I’m really surprised that someone would just dump them in a dumpster like this when we have so many great facilities in the city. Why would someone do that?”
Nichols said if a suspect is found they may face a fine as high as $20,000 or a maximum sentence of up to five years in jail for abandoning an animal in distress.
The Humane Society is looking for any clues from the public to help them find who abandoned the kittens, estimated to be about eight weeks old.
For now, the animals have been taken in by a pre-screened volunteer foster parent with the Humane Society while the investigation continues.
If the owner is not found, they may eventually be put up for adoption.
Nichols wanted to stress to the public if they own any unwanted animals they can easily be dropped off anonymously, for free, at any local vet or the Humane Society.
“We may ask for a name, just for our files, but if people don’t want to do that, we will obviously still take their animal.”
eferguson@postmedia.com
Who dumped these kittens in the garbage? | Canada | News | Toronto Sun
By Eva Ferguson, Postmedia
First posted: Friday, September 02, 2016 03:34 PM EDT | Updated: Friday, September 02, 2016 06:09 PM EDT
The Calgary Humane Society is looking for the public’s help in identifying the owner of four kittens found abandoned in a sealed box in the city’s southeast.
Brad Nichols, senior manager with the society’s cruelty investigations unit, said that while abandoning kittens is not uncommon, he is particularly concerned the kittens were purposely trapped in a closed container.
“Unfortunately the abandonment of kittens, or cats, is something we do see,” said Nichols. “People will either leave them at a residence that they’ve left, or release them onto the streets. At least with that, and with cats in particular, the chance of survival is pretty good.”
“But to put them in a sealed box, where there is no chance of escape, that is intent to harm and that becomes a criminal case. They were actually very lucky to be found.”
Shelley Rudd, customer service manager with Alberta Home Services, helped retrieve the kittens from the dumpster when an employee reported them to her.
“The kittens were very scared, very wild. And they were hot and very distressed,” she said.
“I’m really surprised that someone would just dump them in a dumpster like this when we have so many great facilities in the city. Why would someone do that?”
Nichols said if a suspect is found they may face a fine as high as $20,000 or a maximum sentence of up to five years in jail for abandoning an animal in distress.
The Humane Society is looking for any clues from the public to help them find who abandoned the kittens, estimated to be about eight weeks old.
For now, the animals have been taken in by a pre-screened volunteer foster parent with the Humane Society while the investigation continues.
If the owner is not found, they may eventually be put up for adoption.
Nichols wanted to stress to the public if they own any unwanted animals they can easily be dropped off anonymously, for free, at any local vet or the Humane Society.
“We may ask for a name, just for our files, but if people don’t want to do that, we will obviously still take their animal.”
eferguson@postmedia.com
Who dumped these kittens in the garbage? | Canada | News | Toronto Sun