Kittens thrown over bridge make speedy recovery
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Jan. 3, 2023) – The kittens that someone placed in a diaper box and threw over a bridge into the Tuscarawas River could be going up for adoption later this week.
Tuscarawas County Humane Society Director Haley Predragovich says the three of them are doing remarkably well and seem unphased by the ordeal.
“They are three of the sweetest little kitties I’ve probably had at the shelter in a long time. They are constantly wanting to be cuddled. They’re purring nonstop. They just want to be held and snuggled, and I feel like they are extremely grateful for being saved.”
A passerby noticed the box by the St. Clairsville bridge near Port Washington Friday around 2 pm and alerted the sheriff’s office. Deputies arrived and contacted Arrowhead district firefighters, who used a boat to rescue the kittens. Predragovich called the incident heartbreaking.
“I don’t understand why anyone would throw a box of kittens off a bridge onto ice. The impact alone could have seriously harmed them. Luckily, it didn’t.”
Sheriff Orvis Campbell has been asking anyone with information that could lead investigators to the culprit to call his office at 330-343-2000.
“We haven’t received any tips yet as to who is responsible for that, but we are hoping to at some point. We have done some interviewing of people in that area and just trying to develop some leads, but in general, it’s just a sad thing that someone would choose to do that to some poor, helpless kittens.”
The humane society has named them Lewis, Clark, and Sacagawea. Predragovich says there will be an announcement on the group’s Facebook page when they’re ready to be adopted.