United Kingdom: Police searching for person who put newborn kittens in bag and threw them into the trash

UNITED KINGDOM -- The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information following a ‘disgusting case of animal cruelty’ when five newborn kittens were left for dead in a at a rubbish tip in Fife.

The animal welfare charity was alerted after a member of the public came across the cats, which were only hours old at the time, dumped in a bag at Lochhead Landfill Site, in Dunfermline on Tuesday.

Tragically three of the kittens died in the ordeal.

The two surviving kittens were transported to the charity’s animal rescue and rehoming centre at Peterden near Dundee, where they have been successfully bonded with an adult cat who has recently given birth.

Animal rescue officer Joanna McDaid said: “This is a disgusting case of animal cruelty. The helpless kittens were only hours old and found with their umbilical cords still attached.

“They were cleaned up, checked by a vet and fed before being wrapped up warm.

“Abandoning an animal is a very serious offence, but to do so by callously dumping newborns like rubbish and leaving them to die is extremely cruel.

“We also have concerns for the mother cat as we do not know what has happened to her.

“I am urging anyone with any information to please come forward.”

Abandoning and causing an animal unnecessary suffering is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and anyone found guilty of doing so can expect to be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period or life.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.

(Evening Telegraph UK - July 31, 2015)