Warilla Walker Saves Five Starving Kittens Abandoned in a Shoebox at Dog Park
A morning stroll turned into a life-saving mission for a Warilla resident who discovered five tiny kittens abandoned in a taped-up shoebox at a local dog park. The shocking find has highlighted the ongoing issue of animal cruelty in the Illawarra region.
Early Morning Discovery
Cassandra Nikitaras-Luke was walking her two dogs at the Warilla Fenced Dog Park on Benaud Crescent on Friday, January 23, when she noticed something unusual. A shoebox with its lid securely taped down was sitting on a table within the park, with no one in sight.
"As I got closer I could hear kittens crying and I thought 'oh my god, no'," she recalled. "I lifted up the lid a bit and two little kittens popped their heads out. I started crying, I was really upset because the kittens were crying. Then my dogs were crying because I was crying."
Urgent Rescue Operation
After posting about her discovery on a Facebook community page, Mrs Nikitaras-Luke was quickly connected with Animal Care Collection Illawarra. When rescue volunteer Sonia Podmore arrived, she found the shoebox soaked through with urine from the confined kittens.
Opening the box revealed not just two, but five three-week-old kittens stuffed inside. "They were starving, hungry, and you could see the fleas running into their eyes and mouths. I did have a little tear," Ms Podmore said. "I took them straight home and gave them a bottle and a heat pad. They were very dehydrated."
Critical Care for Vulnerable Kittens
The kittens, consisting of three girls and two boys, are at an age where they would normally be completely dependent on their mother for feeding and toileting. "They're not old enough to be away from their mum," Ms Podmore explained. "They're not out of the woods for a good week, week and a half. So far they're all doing extremely well."
The rescue team has been providing round-the-clock care, feeding the kittens every couple of hours and administering worming treatment. Once the kittens gain sufficient weight, they will be desexed, vaccinated, and prepared for adoption.
A Pattern of Animal Cruelty
This incident is not isolated in Ms Podmore's experience. In her nearly 11 years running Animal Care Collection Illawarra, she has responded to numerous cases of animal abandonment, including cats dumped in plastic bags and others thrown from moving vehicles.
"I understand they probably thought they were doing the right thing leaving them at the dog park, but they wouldn't have survived if that lady hadn't found them," she said.
Legal Consequences of Animal Abandonment
In New South Wales, abandoning an animal is illegal and carries significant penalties. Individuals convicted of animal abandonment face maximum penalties of six months imprisonment and fines up to $5,500, while companies can be fined up to $27,500.
Mrs Nikitaras-Luke remains emotional about the incident days later, particularly considering what might have happened if her dogs had discovered the box first. "I couldn't believe there were five kittens in that one small box with only one air hole," she said. "They're hungry, they're scared, they've been stripped away from their mother, it's so sad. The scenario could have been so much worse."
The rescue serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible pet ownership and the vital work performed by animal rescue organizations throughout Australia.
