Tiny kitten had to be put to sleep after being pushed through ISPCA letter box
A KITTEN suffered severe internal injuries and had to be put down after it was shoved through an Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals letter box.
An unknown member of the public pushed the kitten through the narrow letter box of the Cavan SPCA. The black and white cat had ‘irreparable internal damage’ as a result, according to the vet the ISPCA asked to examiner her.
The kitten was discovered when staff opened up the ISPCA charity shop in Cavan town on Friday morning and heard her cries.
‘They looked everywhere for it and then found it in the box attached to the letter box,’ said animal welfare officer Tina Boyle.
Ms Boyle, who said the kitten was ten to 12 weeks old, added: ‘We have had cats and kittens left in alleyways around our shop but never before has an animal been pushed through the letter box.’
The kitten had an obvious limp but no other outward signs of injury. However, after the vet examined her, Ms Boyle got a phone call to say the cat had to be put to sleep because her internal organs were so badly damaged.
‘We do not want to see this happen again and we would ask people to ring us and talk to us if they have a kitten [that needs a home],’ Ms Boyle said. The incident has been reported to the gardaí.
Meanwhile, animal rescuers discovered 20 guinea pigs that had been dumped in a ditch in Dublin. They were found in brambles covered in mud alongside the body of one baby guinea pig.
Staff from the Dogs Trust found them on the Old Ashbourne Road in Finglas by chance. Kim Murphy and Jason Seagrave, who were on a day off, were called to help rescue them as they have nine of their own guinea pigs at home.
Ms Murphy said it appears that the guinea pigs were in the ditch for two or three nights before they were rescued on Thursday.
She said guinea pigs can’t survive in the wild and that it is amazing they survived without falling prey to foxes or dogs.
‘It is a miracle there is only one that passed away,’ she said.
‘When we found them, they were just silent and just frozen.’
Kildare Animal Foundation is looking to find foster homes for the pets. If anyone is interested in adopting them, they can contact info@animalfoundation.ie.