22-05-2025
Litter of kittens found zip-tied to shopping cart
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Four kittens were found zip-tied to the bottom of a shopping cart at a Riverside County shopping center Tuesday evening.
The kittens were found by one of the Helen Woodward Animal Center's partners, who knew to call the shelter.
'When they came in, they still had their umbilical cords attached,' said Austin Hale from the Helen Woodward Animal Center. Hale had been there the moment the kittens arrived for emergency care, describing it as a heavy experience that is hard to put into words.
'Kittens are such pure, little innocent creatures and our medical staff determined that they were probably three days old at most,' Hale said. 'Your first thought is, 'Who could do this?'
Hale says only two of the kittens survived, one of whom has a leg injury that may force veterinary staff to amputate. The other was uninjured.
'We were all really concerned because the two — the other two [that passed] — we put two and two together and realized they hadn't eaten in a very long time,' Hale explained. 'Something that is important about newborn kittens is that they have to eat every two hours.'
He said relief came when the two surviving kittens went to the bathroom and were able to take to the bottle immediately.
'They were spunky little guys. They just refused to give up,' Hale said. Both kittens are now recovering with foster parents.
This is just the latest animal abuse case the animal center has fielded. Hale says this year, they seen a spike in animal abuse cases.
'If I had to guess, I would say we probably have seen as many animal abuse cases now than we've seen in the entirety of 2024,' Hale said.
Back in February, a litter of pugs was rescued from a dumpster. Those pugs have all since been adopted.
That's the hope for the two surviving kittens who do not have names yet. Though Hale is guessing they may be named after 'Lord of the Rings' characters, Frodo and Sam.
Helen Woodward is hopeful track down footage to find whoever zip-tied the kittens to the shopping cart and hold them accountable.
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