It was a rescue that had to take place, but that should never have happened, says a Middle Arm woman who is riling this week over what she experienced a few days ago.
Pamela Thomas says her and her two children were shocked when they heard news last week of three abandoned kittens at the garbage dump in Burlington.
“I couldn’t believe it, we read it on Facebook, and it seemed everyone was talking about it,” she said.
Thomas, an animal lover all her life, says she was heartbroken when she heard rumors last Thursday, of the animals who were apparently at the regional dump, which services the communities of Burlington, Middle Arm and Smith’s Harbour.
While browsing the social media site, she says she saw several people talking about the animals, who had been seen there earlier that morning.
“People were talking about it, and some were making jokes about it, saying the dump had become the new SPCA, and stuff,” she explained, with a note of disgust in her voice. Others, though, were talking about how cruel the situation was, and voiced their disapproval of the animal malice.
However, for Thomas and her children, she says they were fed up with all talk and no action.
“The thing that bugged me was that people seemed fine to talk about it, but no one was doing anything. I couldn’t handle the thought of those poor little kittens down there all alone – my heart broke for them.”
So did also, the heart of Thomas’ eldest son, Aaron.
“He told me, ‘mom, we have to go get them – we can’t leave them down there alone.’”
With that, Thomas and her family jumped into action and set out for where they had heard the kittens had been last seen.
“We walked in the dump, because by that time, it was closed, and we went to where people were saying they saw them that morning.”
The location was said to be off to the side, near a large pile of metal and steel. Upon arrival, a cardboard box was located that has been tipped over, and the three young kittens were found close by.
“We put them back in the box, picked them up, and walked back to the car, crying to break our hearts,” said Thomas.
The young felines were brought to Thomas’ mother’s house in Burlington, where they were given food and milk.
As for how long the kittens were at the dump, she says it’s hard to know for sure, but she knows they spent at least one night there.
“They were wet from the rain we had the night before, so I know they were there all that night.”
From there, Thomas says she contacted the RCMP in Baie Verte, who then contacted the SPCA in Grand Falls-Windsor.
“I heard back from the SPCA and they told me that if I couldn’t find good homes for them, then I could bring them in there,” she explained. As of the time of the interview, she says a family in Burlington adopted one kitten, but the other two were to be carried to Grand Falls-Windsor earlier this week.
The whole situation, though, has left a very sour taste in the mouths of many – especially her and her family, said Thomas.
“I’m disgusted that someone would do something like this – it’s cruel, and the should be punished for what they did.”
Thomas says there’s no way to prove who may have abandoned the kittens, but she hopes that in a small town, someone will come forward and own up to the offence, before it happens again.
“People who have animals should have the sense to take care of them, or not have them at all,” she said. “To do something like this is senseless.”
For now, though, she’s glad that they had been in the right place at the right time and were able to help the three kittens on this day in particular.
“Hopefully someone will come along and adopt them and give them a good, loving home,” she said.
Some may argue that they deserve it.
editor@thenorwester.ca
