It was a heartbreaking scene at Donn Eisele Park in Wilton Manors on Sunday, when surveillance footage captured a woman abandoning at least five kittens near the edge of the park. Neighbors quickly sprang into action, with one resident scooping up four of the tiny animals and keeping them safe overnight while local volunteers scoured the area for the last missing kitten. By that evening, most of the litter had already landed in new homes with nearby families.
Video Captures The Dumping
Surveillance video recorded just after 10 a.m. on Sunday shows a woman walking up to the park carrying a box, setting it down beside the grounds, and leaving. The whole thing takes less than 90 seconds. "I was disgusted and horrified when I saw that lady just dump those poor kittens out of a box and onto the ground," neighbor Glenn Jenkins told CBS News Miami.
Neighbors And Rescuers Move Fast
Peter Carey, who says he was out walking his dog when he spotted the animals, hurried home, grabbed some tuna, and used it to coax four of the kittens out of the brush. He then kept them safe while volunteers stayed on the hunt for the fifth. Rescue group Castaways Animal Rescue ultimately helped trap the last kitten, and Carey told Local 10 he had already secured homes for two of the litter and shared his contact information for anyone interested in adopting the others.
Kittens Rehomed Quickly; Police Seek Tips
Within just a few hours, neighbors and rescue groups had matched most of the kittens with new families, including a pair adopted by the Olhovich family, whose mother said the cats have helped her young sons cope. Wilton Manors Police say they are actively investigating the abandonment and are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Plante at 954-390-2172, according to CBS News Miami.
Shelter Strain And The Bigger Picture
Animal advocates point out that the height of "kitten season" combined with stretched-thin shelter resources can leave some pet owners unsure where to turn. Broward County Animal Care temporarily suspended select cat intake last summer during a panleukopenia outbreak as a way to protect the animals already in its care. County officials have urged residents to adopt or foster through official channels rather than abandoning animals, per Broward County Animal Care.
