Taking kittens that are being abused????

[EnthusiasticNaps Hatchling Find all posts View Profile Close EnthusiasticNaps]

UPDATE IT'S 10PM AND MY MOM JUST FOUND BOTH KITTENS OUTSIDE ALONE!!!

I currently live in an apartment complex and there are A LOT of stray cats that me and my mom feed every night. Every kid that lives here knows we do. Well a few days ago my mom caught 2 little boys (age 3 and 6) running around with kittens outside. She yelled at them then a police officer came over. Apparently another neighbor saw the boys swinging the kittens around on leashes. The cop went and yelled at the kids parents and we thought that was that. We were outside today and we saw the boys talking to other kids and in the back we saw there kitten had gotten out. The 3 year old went and grabbed the kitten by the tail and put him inside. My mom told them don't let them out. About 5 minutes ago my mom saw them playing with the kittens outside. They're parents obviously aren't watching the kids or the cats that are just old enough to be away from mom. I know it's not right to just take them, but they're either going to end up as strays, in a pound, or dead. What should I do? (There are only 2 animal control officers for all of Arizona so they're not really an option)

[LPC Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close LPC]

Re: Taking kittens that are being abused????

Firstly, welcome to the forum! Please go to the introductions section to say hello to members and tell us a little more about yourself and your pets. It is very good that you and your mother feed the stray cats in your neighborhood.

Regarding your question, it depends on your age. If you still a minor, then any decision about what to do (including taking charge of a kitten currently in the possession of another family) should be taken by your mother, as the responsible adult. If you are legally an adult, then it would seem best that you reach a joint decision with your mother.

I hear you about these poor kittens being ill-treated by these young children. There are two legal things your mother can do:

Contact Arizona Humane Society. They have officers who are able to investigate cruelty to animals. Here is one page which explains things; make sure you read down all the page, not just the first bit which is about medical help: http://www.azhumane.org/our-services...l-rescue-eamt/

and

Contact Social Services about the very young children not being the supervision of their parents. Even a visit from a social services officer should be enough to get these parents to take the issue seriously. This is a separate issue (i.e. they would not investigate animal cruelty), but if the parents are persuaded to supervise their 3 year old all the time - as they should do - then this sort of rough treatment should not happen.

Give the above bodies a chance to act before you consider doing anything possibly illegal. I know that your heart is in the right place and that you and your mother want to save these kittens. Please keep us updated.

[EnthusiasticNaps Hatchling Find all posts View Profile Close EnthusiasticNaps]

Re: Taking kittens that are being abused????

Thank you very much for the reply. My mom found both kittens outside and nearly 11pm last night completely alone. We took them in because there are some more aggressive stray cats outside and they wouldn't have survived.

[LPC Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close LPC]

Re: Taking kittens that are being abused????

I understand. In the circumstances you made the compassionate choice.

[Tobi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tobi]

Re: Taking kittens that are being abused????

EnthusiasticNaps, you have a kind heart and so has your mother. Great advice above....
But you had to use the 'emergency strategy' in the end.
I hope all is well.....please do come back if you can and update us about what is happening. I hope the kittens will be okay.

[LPC Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close LPC]

Re: Taking kittens that are being abused????

UPDATE 2 The kittens are doing great. We're currently looking for someone to adopt them after we get them the the vet for shots and fixing.

Thanks for the update. I am delighted that all is going well.

I have moved your latest update from your first post (no. 1 above) to a new post here, so that readers will have a sense of the "flow" of events.

[Tobi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tobi]

Re: Taking kittens that are being abused????

I am glad to hear the kittens are doing well. Good job!

[mariarheateddy Cub Find all posts View Profile Close mariarheateddy]

Re: Taking kittens that are being abused????

I don't like people who abused cats..
I love cats..