‘Some people obviously haven’t got a heart’: Kitten dumpings cause outrage online

*WARNING, DISTURBING CONTENT* Two cases of abandoned cats – just hours apart in different suburbs – have caused massive community backlash after one litter was found dumped amid rubbish.

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RSPCA Tasmania has let four little cats out of the bag after they were discovered in a bin, while Brightside Farm Sanctuary expressed disappointment when a misinformed woman dumped kittens on the doorstep.

Facebook users have responded with anger to both incidents, which were posted on social media on this week – within an hour of each other.

RSPCA Tasmania shared photos of one poor kitten who had tried to escape through a pipe but became stuck.

A kitten with its head stuck in the bin’s drainage.

The kittens had split open bags of trash, desperately scavenging fro food.

The kitten’s body, stuck inside the bin.

“Four little 10-12 week old kittens were found in a skip bin at [vegetable production company] Harvest Moon in Forth,” the RSPCA Tasmania Facebook post read.

The post explained one tin of cat food left with the kittens had been consumed before the felines resorted to a bin bag scavenge.

“Staff at Harvest Moon acted quickly and called the RSPCA team to come and get them out,” the post said.

“Unfortunately one little kitten escaped amid the noise and activity, but we will be setting traps this week to try and catch him.”

Facebook commenter Maxine Salter wrote “some people obviously haven’t got a heart,” while commenter Jane Absolom labelled the illegal dumper or dumpers “scumbags!” and Monica Marc asked “what the hell is wrong with people?”

RSPCA Tasmania asked people to drop stray cats and kittens free of charge during opening hours to the Devonport Animal Care Centre and implored locals to desex cats and kittens through the Centrepay Cat Desexing Program.

Another dumper made the trip to Brightside Farm Sanctuary in Cygnet.

The not for profit shelter said the dumper did not call for help or ask if they had room.

“This morning a silver HiLux dumped four big kittens over the Brightside gate,” the Brightside Facebook post read.

“The woman dropped the crate and drove off.”

With a yearly vet bill close to $200,000, Brightside staff expressed dismay and warned dumping animals is a chargeable offence.

“We do not as a general rule take cats.”

Brightside recommended bringing cats to dedicated facilities like Ten Lives Cat Centre or Rescue Cats Safe Haven Inc.

A Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment spokeswoman said the Cat Management Bill amendments passed by the state government in October 2020 were being rolled out over a 12 month transitionary period.

Kittens have been dumped at Brightside Farm Sanctuary in Cygnet. Brightside posted the photos along with a message to take cats to the correct facilities instead of dumping them at animal sanctuaries that aren't designed to take in cats. Source: FACEBOOK.

“Compulsory desexing of owned cats will become compulsory early next year, when the transitional amendments to the cat Management Amendment Act are commenced,” the spokeswoman said.

“As the amendments transition towards commencement, the Government and organisations such as Ten Lives, Just Cats and RSPCA will be actively promoting the importance of responsible cat ownership and building awareness of cat owners responsibilities in relation to the Legislation.

One tool in the new awareness raising arsenal is the website TassieCat promoting responsible cat ownership via tassiecat.com

The DPIPWE spokeswoman said timelines for the amendments would remain as they are to allow time for awareness campaigns to take effect and to give stakeholders time to adjust.

The amendments were developed in consultation with ten organisations including Ten Lives Cat Centre, the RSPCA, the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association and the University of Tasmania.

Amendments include requiring cats to be microchipped an desexed by four months and allowing a maximum of four cats at a property without a permit.

A Tasmania Police spokeswoman said no offenders had been proceeded against under the Cat Management Act 2009 in the period from October last year to now.

Police said four offenders had been proceeded against since October 2020 by infringement notice for animal cruelty related offences.