James Paul Myers, 24, has been charged with cruelty to animals, drug possession and other related offenses.
A police officer patrolling Dunwoody Drive in West Whiteland Township spotted Myers parked in the middle of the street with his car door open around 4:40 a.m. on Sunday, according to investigators.
A small black kitten was underneath the door, investigators said. Its neck was bound tightly with rope, its face was bleeding and several teeth of its teeth had been knocked out, according to police.
Police say the phrase “SLAM IT YOU [expletive]" was spray painted on the roadway near the vehicle, and the kitten appeared to have been dragged and slammed to the ground.
Police executed a search warrant of Myers’ vehicle, where investigators say they found bundles of heroin, hundreds of used bags of heroin, 46 hypodermic needles, a rope that matched the one used on the kitten and a small box containing cat feces.
The 2 to 3-month-old kitten, which was lethargic and unresponsive and suffering from head trauma, was taken to the HOPE Veterinary Clinic in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
The kitten was examined by Dr. Jennifer Magilton and determined to have been given heroin. Dr. Magilton gave the kitten Narcan, a heroin antidote commonly given to humans.
The kitten, renamed Hope, is recovering at the veterinary clinic and eventually will be transferred to another facility for adoption.
"I would think in the next few days or a week or so he'll be back to nearly a normal kitten, up and ready for a permanent home," said Dr. Gary Puglia of HOPE Veterinary.
Myers was taken into custody and charged with cruelty to animals, drug possession and other related offenses.
“There is no excuse for cruelty to a defenseless animal,” said District Attorney Tom Hogan. “The West Whiteland Police Department should be commended for intervening to stop this abuse. Dr. Magilton should be praised for her quick thinking to save the kitten’s life.”
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