PETA offering reward to find who dumped Penwortham kittens

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have offered a reward of £2,000 for any details that lead to the arrest and conviction of the person involved.

The kittens, three females and one male, were found dumped in a shopping bag inside a bin next to a wooded area on Hill Road South at around 11.30pm on April 17, with their umbilical cords still attached.

The cats were found in this bin (Image: RSPCA)

RSPCA officials confirmed that the kittens were only two to three days old when they were discovered and would have died if they hadn’t been rescued.

PETA vice president of programmes, Elias Allen, said: “We’re calling on anyone who has information about this case to come forward so that whoever abandoned these animals can be held accountable and prevented from endangering anyone else.

“It takes a disturbing and dangerous lack of empathy to abandon living, feeling beings like rubbish.”

All four kittens were found wrapped in a blanket and taken to the house of the person who found them before being collected by SPCA Animal Rescue Officer Mike Man.

Following an examination at Greater Manchester Animal Hospital they were placed with an experienced fosterer from the charity’s Southport, Ormskirk and District Branch.

Speaking at the time, Mike said: “Sadly, we see many upsetting incidents like this, largely due to cats having unexpected and unplanned litters which then prove to be too much time, effort and money.

“It’s always a sad and depressing sight to see very young animals left in circumstances like this.”

During the original appeal, launched at the end of April by the RSPCA, there were concerns for the well-being of the mother and asked anyone with information to get in touch.

Enquiries and checks for CCTV have been carried out by the RSPCA in the area.

The RSPCA is urging anyone with first-hand information about the incident to call its appeals line on 0300 123 8018 quoting reference number 01496008.