Someone put 15 cats and kittens in an overcrowded crate and left them all by a river without any way to survive. Fortunately, an Animal Control Officer found the cats on a September Sunday and brought them to the local shelter. However, with over 400 cats in their care, the Muncie Animal Care Center in Indiana already had their hands full at the time.
Now, the shelter made a plea to the community to help them find homes as they were over capacity by a staggering 100 cats. Because they would waive normal fees to help find suitable homes for all the cats.
Image via Facebook/Muncie Animal Care & Services
Looking for Witnesses in the Muncie Area
Now, the shelter is asking anyone who may know something to come forward.
“Dumping ANY animal in a cage with absolutely nothing is cruel, inhumane, and anyone who does it needs [to be] held accountable, the shelter stated on Facebook. “We are urging anyone with information to come to the shelter during business hours and fill out a witness statement.”
Notably, if the person or persons responsible are found, they may face Indiana’s tougher animal cruelty laws, which went into effect in July. By the new law, anyone convicted of purposely hurting an animal could face felony charges and prison time, not merely a misdemeanor.
An Overwhelmed Shelter Asks for Donations
In the meantime, the shelter was quickly running out of supplies, asking for donations and basic things like food bowls and litter pans. Due to all the pets, they also required extra volunteers to help keep everything clean and sterile.
“These animals deserve better, and we as a community MUST do better. Please share!!” the shelter pleaded. In addition, they asked the community to do its part and spay and neuter pets, offering a list of local resources for assistance.
More from WTHR:
A Crate of Kittens and Cats Left by the Muncie River
Inside the crate, someone trapped various cats of all ages and then abandoned them with no access to food or water. According to Newsweek, some of the kittens were barely one week old.
On a GoFundMe created to help with the cat’s medical care, pictures show the crate draped in gray and brown material.
“This was how these poor babies were found abandoned by the river 🙁 We are sick over it here at the shelter. This is not ok. We need help!!” wrote the page organizer.
Image via GoFundMe
Hundreds of Generous People Donate
Amazingly, the page’s goal of $1.5K was topped many times over, as people contributed over $10.8K in over 260 donations at the time of this writing. All of the contributions came in just three days, a wonderful show of support for the shelter and cats.
FOX59 shared a story about the cats dumped near Reynard Road. (see video below)
Rescuing 50 Cats from One Home Near Muncie
As recently as June, Muncie Animal Control rescued 50 cats from one single-level home in Yorktown, just west of Muncie. Although nobody was living in the home, the cats and kittens existed in “deplorable” conditions.
After rescuing over 35 cats, they had to return to save 12 more. Sadly, they found the remains of two cats inside the dwelling.
Fortunately, the adult cats were mostly healthy, and the malnourished kittens were able to receive care. However, the shelter needed to pay for veterinary expenses for all the cats. Now, just three months later, they are saving the cats found dumped by the Muncie River. If you would like to donate, please visit the shelter website here.
Video from FOX59 News:
