Cats abandoned in box along roadway get happy ending
Courtesy of Mt. Pleasant Township Police department
Two tuxedo cats were found in a plastic bin taped shut along Martin Road in Mt. Pleasant Township June 28. The cats seemed well-cared for but were not microchipped or neutered, and the identity of the original owner remains unknown.
Courtesy of Mt. Pleasant Township Police department
One of the two cats found along a roadway in Mt. Pleasant Township curls up in the box in which it and its sibling were abandoned. The cats were placed with a foster, and a police officer recently applied to adopt the them.
Courtesy of Gina Nestor
Two tuxedo cats found along Martin Road in Mt. Pleasant Township adjust to their foster home. The two cats appear to be brothers and are in good condition, and awaiting their fur-ever home.
Two tuxedo kittens found along a roadway in Mt. Pleasant are close to a fairytale ending, at home with a township police officer who applied to adopt the adorable cats.
On June 28, a Mt. Pleasant Township officer found a plastic storage tote taped shut with blue painter’s tape along Martin Road, said police Chief Matthew Tharp.
“The cats appeared like they were relatively healthy,” Tharp said. “We tried to give them water and food. They wouldn’t eat. We held them overnight here. We were hoping that we were either going to find an owner or somebody was going to take them for a temporary foster.”
The department connected with Gina Nestor, a volunteer with Canonsburg Cats, which works under the nonprofit Fix ‘Ur Cat, to spay or neuter, vaccinate and care for cats and cat colonies throughout the area.
A friend of Nestor’s called Barb Brown, who works with Angel Ridge Animal Rescue, and Brown was able to place the two cats in a foster home. The cats received their vaccinations and were neutered, and are healthy, Nestor said.
While these resilient cats are readying for life in a fur-ever home, Nestor said there are many cats throughout the region whose lives take a different turn.
“The way they were found is a criminal act. You’re not allowed to dump an animal,” Nestor said, adding that abandoning, torturing, withholding food and water and/or relocating cats, dogs and other pets is a violation of PA Criminal Code Title 18, 5511. “People do it all the time, especially to cats. They think they can live without anybody taking care of them.”
While cats have a better chance at survival in summer months than in winter, Nestor said, pet cats should remain that: pets.
“We deal with a lot of sad situations and abuse, but this one was over the top. If it would’ve been a hot, sunny day, they would’ve just baked to death. Thank God that police officer took interest to say what’s alongside the road, that looks kind of weird.”
Tharp said his department does not receive many calls about animal cruelty; this was the second incident in about 18 months, and police did file charges in the first case.
Mt. Pleasant police are still trying to identify the two cats’ original owner, and will press charges if that person is found. Nestor said there is a $500 reward for anyone who can identify the animals’ original owner.
For now, though, Tharp is just happy that the two cats found along Martin Road have a long, healthy life ahead of them.
“The whole department liked the cats,” Tharp said, adding they couldn’t keep them as mascots. “They don’t want to get separated. I do believe one of my officers is going to adopt those two cats. I’m just thankful.”