INVESTIGATION: A man who dumped a box containing 17 tiny kittens outside a Killybegs butcher’s shop has been identified following an investigation by Gardai.
The man, who cannot be named at his stage, left the box of kittens outside the shop at 5am on the morning of Wednesday 18th May.
Gardai interviewed the man this week at which time he admitted to abandoning the kittens and agreed to fully cooperate with the investigation.
ISPCA Inspector Kevin McGinley has since removed eight adult cats from the man’s property who are now in the care of the ISPCA.
A file is being prepared by Gardai for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The kittens, aged between two to four weeks old, were found by the local postwoman during her morning delivery round several hours after they had been left out in the rain.
Donegal rescue, Animals In Need, took in the kittens, ten of whom were suffering from serious eye infections, and split them between foster homes so that they could be hand-reared and bottle-fed around the clock as they were all too young to leave their mothers.
Sadly, two of the smallest kittens, Dodger and Oreo, did not survive but the remaining 15 kittens are doing well in their foster homes.
An Animals In Need spokesperson commented ‘We would like to say a huge thank you to Sgt. Tom Mitchell at Killybegs Gardai Station for his perseverance with this case.’
She added ‘We’d also once again like to thank the Post Office staff at Killybegs who not only initially rescued the kittens and brought them to us but have since held a collection for the kittens and also donated food for them, which is much appreciated.’
Animals In Need would ask that anyone in a similar situation, wherein they are over-run with kittens, to please contact their local rescue.
There is help available only a phone call away, whether with the rehoming of kittens or the neutering of cats over 5 months old.
There is no reason for helpless kittens to be abandoned under any circumstances. The Donegal SPCA are also offering discounted neutering for stray and feral cats at the moment so please contact them directly for further details.
If you would like to help towards the kittens’ care, please donate 2 by texting the word ‘KITTEN’ to 50300. Every last cent goes directly to the rescued animals for their food, bedding, vet bills, worming treatment and vaccinations.
For further information on adoption, fostering, volunteering or donating, please contact the main helpline on 087 1356188. For cat/kitten enquiries please call 087 7644420. Animals In Need Donegal is also on Facebook and has a website at http://www.animalsinneeddonegal.com.
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