Five week old kittens abandoned on side of the road in taped up box in Hunter Valley
An RSPCA inspector has found three kittens dumped on the side of the road in a taped up box. They’ve been taken to the RSPCA Hunter Veterinary Hospital and checked over by a vet.
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An act of animal cruelty has caused community outrage after three kittens were found stuffed and taped up in a box, left on the side of the road at Gresford, near Dungog on the weekend.
RSPCA inspector Russell Jarman found the kittens on Sunday morning after receiving reports from a member of the public who came across the box and decided to investigate.
“It’s incredibly distressing, the three five week old kittens are quite healthy but the box was fully taped up,” he said.
“Considering the temperatures we’ve been having as late, without any real ventilation, the animals could well and truly have died.
“There are avenues people can take to surrender these animals to shelters where they didn’t have to be left like that.”
Mr Jarman predicts the kittens may have been trapped in the box for several hours or possibly overnight.
Fortunately after being taken to the RSPCA Hunter Veterinary Hospital and checked over by a vet, they have received a bill of good health.
“We will endeavour to get them up to a good healthy weight, have them de-sexed, vaccinated, micro-chipped and look for new homes for them,” he said.
The kittens will be held for an investigation to take place.
“If anyone has any information if they can assist us with that,” Mr Jarman said.
“It is an offence to abandon an animal and that comes with a maximum fine of five and a half thousand dollars and/or six months in prison.
“Had these kittens died as a result of being left there, that could of elevated to an act of aggravated cruelty which comes with a $22,000 fine and/or two years imprisonment.”
The news created outrage on social media as angry animal lovers condemned those responsible.
“So happy they are safe, I hope the terrible person who did this gets caught and charged,” one person said.
“Why do ugly, nasty people punish kittens to possible death when it's not their bloody fault to be born – plenty of homes could be found, they’re so precious,” another said.
“These cruel people can go to the trouble of putting defenceless little kittens into a box, taping it up and then driving somewhere to dump them, but can’t put in the effort to drive the poor little things to a shelter. Unbelievable. Hope they get caught,” one person added.
“How can people be so cruel,” questioned a Facebook user.
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