Pet Helpers Offers $1,000 Reward for Info on Abandoned Kittens

By: Pet Helpers

Early this Wednesday morning, after a night of harsh winds and heavy storms, Pet Helpers staff investigated the faint sound of crying from a damp box found behind the shelter’s dumpster. Inside were six tiny kittens, barely three-weeks old, with no sign of the individuals who left them there. 

The kittens were quickly brought into the shelter to be warmed up and bottle fed. Leaving kittens in a box without the necessities of life or the securement of a new owner, qualifies as criminal animal abandonment in the state of South Carolina. Pet Helpers has issued a $1,000 reward for any information that directly leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the abandonment. Please email msusko@pethelpers.org or call (843) 531-6164 with any information you may have related to this incident.

“Although the people who left these poor kittens in that box may have thought they were doing the right thing, they seriously endangered their lives during the storm and broke the law in doing so.” said Pet Helpers’Animal Shelter Manager Katie Leasure. “This is why we encourage the community to safely surrender animals by calling to set up an appointment during our business hours.”

As saddening as this may be, it is emblematic of the rising population of cats and dogs in shelters in our area. This all too common sight has become familiar to Lowcountry animal shelter workers, as rescues across the state begin to face critical overcapacities at frightening rates.

“Between kitten season, puppy season, owner surrenders, and partner shelter transfers, we have been flooded all summer with animal intakes,” explained Leasure. “It’s been the case for shelters all over the Charleston area and there hasn’t been any sign of things slowing down anytime soon.”

Much like other local shelters, such as Charleston Animal Society and Dorchester Paws, Pet Helpers has began to run kitten adoption specials to help clear space for the over 100 kittens in the rescue’s care, both in foster care and at the shelter. Until further notice, kitten adoption fees at Pet Helpers have been lowered to $50.

Walk-in cat and kitten adoptions are open from 11-6 daily, with dog adoptions being made by appointment by emailing office@pethelpers.org or by calling (843) 795-1110. View adoptable pets, learn more about Pet Helpers’ community programs, and ways you can get involved at pethelpers.org.

Pet Helpers offers numerous ways for the community to make a difference in the rising animal population in the Lowcountry outside of adoption, such as their Trap Neuter Release (TNR) Program through the shelter’s public spay and neuter clinic, that provides traps and low-cost neuter surgeries to locals with unowned community cat populations in their area. Additionally, Pet Helpers’ Spay and Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) is the only income-based program of its kind in the Lowcountry, allowing thousands of individuals to affordably and safely spay or neuter their pets without being financially compromised.

For more information, please visit www.pethelpers.org or call (843) 795-1110.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us