O'LEARY, P.E.I. — The P.E.I. Humane Society is investigating the discovery of two dead kittens by the side of a road in West Prince.
Dawn Callaghan and her 15-year-old daughter found a box and the kittens in Brockton, near the Waste Watch drop-off facility on Dock Road.
Callaghan, who lives in O’Leary, said she first noticed the box on the side of the road on Saturday, Jan. 23, but nothing about it made her consider stopping.
The next day she passed the box again and its contents, two dead kittens, were on the road.
“I’m a huge cat lover – that was bad,” said Callaghan.
“My daughter was actually the one who got out and moved the kittens off the road. She didn’t have much love for the human race at the time.”
The Callaghans moved the bodies off the road and into the ditch. They made a social media post about the experience, which was widely shared.
The P.E.I. Humane Society saw the post, and some of its animal protection officers went to collect the box and bodies on Monday, Jan 24.
Jennifer Harkness, P.E.I. Humane Society communications manager, said her office is asking for anyone with information related to this case to come forward.
Unfortunately, there is not a lot of information to go on, but it is still possible someone might have relevant information, she said.
They do know the kittens were approximately eight weeks old, with tabby markings.
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It is unknown what the cause of death was, but regardless of circumstances, the appropriate action was not taken in this case.
“It’s hard to tell at this point if they were deceased before they were put in the box or afterwards. So, it is possible that they were already deceased, but it is strange they were just left on the side of the road,” said Harkness.
If the cats were unwanted, the owner could have surrendered them to the P.E.I. Humane Society free of charge or reached out to Keeping Cats Homed, Cat Action Team or various other organizations for help.
“There is lots of help out there. So, if you are an owner and you are struggling, please don’t feel like you can’t reach out and re-home these animals. The kittens were of an age where they could have been re-homed,” said Harkness.
If they were dead before being left on the road than they should have been disposed of more appropriately.
For example, Island Waste Management allows small dead animals, domestic or wild, to be disposed of in the black cart, as long as they are in a clear and tied plastic bag.
Anyone with information related to this case can make a confidential report to the P.E.I. Humane Society via email at [email protected] or by calling them at 902-892-1190.
