ORIGNAL POST FROM 4/2/24:
If it wasn’t for a 1lb kitten, we’ve named Roo, dozens of animals would still be living in horrendous conditions in a now-condemned Coatesville home.
Our Animal Protective Services (APS) and Humane Officers had no idea the horror they would uncover after being flagged down by a person holding an injured kitten. Within days, nearly 40 animals would be rescued from squalor thanks to their vigilance.
The kitten was presented to officers wrapped in duct tape that was hiding a severed front leg with exposed bone and rotting tissue in the infected wound. They rushed her to our West Chester Campus, where our skilled medical team was able to remove the rest of the kitten’s leg and stop the infection, saving Roo’s life.
Driven by intuition, our APS team launched an investigation to make sure there were no other animals in need of care. While serving a search warrant at the suspect’s home, they discovered nearly three dozen kittens and cats, a dog, turtle and rabbit living in dire conditions so bad that the home has been condemned.
In all, 38 animals were rescued from the filthy home. One kitten was found deceased. Some of the animals had injuries, including infected eyes, untreated wounds, and upper respiratory infections.
A suspect has been identified and charged with one felony count of aggravated cruelty and two misdemeanor counts of cruelty and neglect in Roo’s case, with dozens of new charges pending for the rest of the animals found.
This story serves as a powerful reminder of the lifesaving impact of our work. With your support, we can continue to be on the front lines to prevent future cases of neglect and cruelty, seek justice for the voiceless, and provide a safe place for the survivors’ recovery.
Please donate to Roo and the survivors she endured this tragedy with.
All rights reserved. © 2024 Brandywine Valley SPCA.
