Two kittens found bound together with zip ties at a Rancho Santa Fe shopping center are “fighting for their lives” at Helen Woodward Animal Center, while two others discovered nearby died, officials said Wednesday.
The orange tabby kittens, tentatively named Frodo and Sam, were found under a shopping cart near a creek by a Blue Buffalo pet food representative affiliated with the shelter. Two other kittens did not survive the incident, which shelter spokeswoman Jessica Gercke told NBC 7 involved suspected torture. The surviving pair, who appeared to have never been fed since birth, were brought to the center Tuesday night; the others died within hours of being found, Gercke said, noting staff initially feared all four would perish.
Helen Woodward medical staff determined the kittens were less than five days old, still had umbilical cords attached, and were “covered in fleas.” One kitten also suffered “severe injury from a zip tie” on its left hind leg, likely permanent, though both are expected to survive and are now in foster care, Gercke said.
“Finding qualified bottle feeders is crucial because these little ones need feeding every two hours,” said Kendall Schultz, the center’s adoption director. “Thankfully, we have an extensive network of qualified fosters who drop everything to help.”
The nonprofit did not elaborate on the deceased kittens’ conditions but emphasized the urgency of their care. The incident has prompted an outpouring of support for the surviving kittens, who rely on round-the-clock foster care to recover.
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