MEDINA COUNTY, Ohio — Half a dozen kittens, believed to be between three and four weeks old, are recovering at the Medina County SPCA after a good Samaritan saw a person driving a red truck, possibly a Chevy, toss them out of the vehicle in a garbage bag.
Humane Officer, Rachel Batten, said the six kittens likely would have died if the good Samaritan hadn’t seen a strange bag at the corner of her property on Wadsworth and Blake roads in Wadsworth.
After the truck sped off, the good Samaritan went to investigate.
“She just had (a) bad feeling, and thank God she did, because she went over to check it out and there were six kittens inside. They were covered in their own feces. There was a little Tupperware container of milk for some reason, but she was really, really kind, and she got them out,” said Batten.
The good Samaritan took them home, bathed them, fed them, and called the shelter.
The SPCA made a Facebook post earlier in the day, praising the good Samaritan's quick thinking and the dangers the kittens would have faced if they had not been found.
"Had this Good Samaritan not trusted her instincts and checked that bag, these kittens almost certainly would not have survived. At their age, they were far too young to fend for themselves, find food, escape danger, or even safely free themselves from the bag," said the Medina County SPCA in a Facebook post. "They also endured being thrown from a moving vehicle before being left on the side of the road."
Thanks to that woman’s quick response and care, Batten said the kittens made it to the Medina County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
Now, Batten said they’re safely recovering until they’re ready for adoption.
“The finder who witnessed everything actually ended up keeping one,” said Batten. “The other five came back here, doing really well and they all went into foster.”
News 5 asked Batten to describe her reaction when she first got the call.
“I was really disappointed, you know? We have abandonments all the time unfortunately, but it’s not super common in this area,” said Batten.
Secretary on Medina County SPCA Board of Directors Jessica VanGelder said she was surprised.
“To just toss out the window and leave them to be, not know where they were going to land, if anybody was going to be able to help them was very sad,” said VanGelder.
Medina County SPCA is asking anyone who might have witnessed what happened to reach out.
In the meantime, Batten strongly encourages pet owners to get their furry friends spayed or neutered.
For those who may be struggling with their pets, Batten said it’s best to call local shelters, vets or post on social media for help.
“Each situation is different and there’s not a perfect answer. Shelters are full everywhere, but you have to at least try and ask before it ends up in a garbage bag,” said Batten.
If the person or people of interest are caught, Batten said they could face misdemeanor or even felony charges.
In the meantime, anyone with information about the driver is asked to call the shelter at 330-802-7880 or email humaneofficer@medinacountyspca.com.
