An investigation is underway after CCTV footage captured an elderly man dumping four four-week-old kittens in an after-hours book chute in Greenacres, South Australia, at around midnight on January 10.
The kittens were discovered two days later on Monday morning, unharmed by a staff member and taken to the Animal Welfare League for assessment.
Unfortunately, this has not been a one-off incident, with RSPCA South Australia sharing on Facebook that this “has sadly become the third incident of kittens being dumped in the same chute.”
A RSPCA South Australia spokesman said that the previous two incidents were handled internally.
“The kittens were really lucky that they weren’t injured by books falling in on top of them or dehydration and starvation, because they were there for such a long time,” RSPCA South Australia acting chief inspector Emma Shepley told ABC.
The kittens have since been rehomed with a new foster family, but the RSPCA is urging anyone with information to contact their emergency hotline.
Abandoning an animal is an offence in South Australia, which carries a $20,000 fine or up to two years in prison.
During the warmer months, it’s often the peak period where kittens are being surrendered or abandoned, often called the “kitten season”.
“We see animals abandoned throughout the year for many reasons – changes in living situations, financial pressures, or an owner’s declining health,” a spokesman for SA RSPCA said.
“But every kitten season, there’s a noticeable rise as people with undersexed female cats suddenly find themselves with unexpected litters that they can’t care for.
“Abandoning an animal is often a desperate act, but we’d like to take this opportunity to remind the public that abandoning an animal is an offence under South Australia’s Animal Welfare Act,” they continued.
Locals are being urged to contact the RSPCA cruelty hotline on 1300 477 722 if they know anyone with information.
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