The RSPCA is appealing for the public’s help after two kittens are thought to have been deliberately thrown from a moving vehicle in Goole.
The charity was called in to investigate after two members of the public brought in a deceased black and white male kitten to a local veterinary practice which had reportedly been found at the side of the road in Stanhope Street on 7 July.
The kitten, who was approximately eight to ten weeks old, was assessed by a vet and is thought to have suffered a serious head injury.
On the same day, about 45 minutes later at 4.15pm, another member of the public brought in a female black and white kitten who had reportedly been found at the same location. The cat had a severe injury to her left hind leg. It was x rayed and shown to be fractured, with possible displacement and ligament damage. The kitten was in a great deal of pain and was put to sleep by the vet to prevent further suffering.
At around 5pm another person arrived at the vets to say she had witnessed four kittens being thrown from a moving car in Stanhope Road, and that the two kittens brought to them were from that incident.
RSPCA inspector Natalie Hill, who has been investigating for the animal welfare charity, said: “We’re extremely concerned by the circumstances surrounding the death of these two kittens and we’d appeal to those members of the public who went to the vets, as well as motorists who may have dashcam footage and pedestrians who were in the area at the time, to get in touch if they get help us progress this inquiry.
“A further two kittens were also said to have been thrown from the vehicle,they’ve not been found, and we’re very worried about their welfare, as well as that of their mother.”
Anyone with information should contact the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018.
The distressing incident comes just days after figures released by the RSPCA as part of its Cancel Out Cruelty revealed 2,112 complaints* were made about cat cruelty in Yorkshire last year, with nearly 260 in East Riding.
In England and Wales, almost 18,000 complaints about cats were reported to the charity, with 1,726 of these relating to incidents of intentional harm** – which is around five a day – a 25 percent increase on the previous year.
The RSPCA has recently launched its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign which calls on the public to help its frontline teams investigate incidents like the one in Goole and to raise awareness about how to stop cruelty to animals for good. To support the campaign vi
