By LAURA WAKELY
A KINGS Park resident was shocked and disgusted after finding kittens buried alived in her yard.
Rachael Lorenz said she arrived home last month to find her lawn disturbed and after investigating discovered three kittens buried in the earth.
She said the there was dirt in the animals mouths, ears and noses and that they appeared to be only days old, no bigger than a “stick of butter”.
“It was an absolute miracle that they were alive after all that dirt,” Ms Lorenz said.
“I don’t know how it happened and what happened.
“It’s unfathomable.”
Ms Lorenz was unsure whether the kittens were buried by an animal or a person as an act of animal cruelty, but said the ground was compressed.
“I just don’t know why someone would do it,” she said.
“If it was a person, I think shame on them.”
She claimed to have spoken with someone from the RSPCA who told her the kittens should be euthanised.
Ms Lorenz said she had been unable to bear the thought of having the kittens put down and chose to hand-rear them herself.
“You expect to get help or encouragement, but they didn’t give me any tips or anything,” Ms Lorenz said.
RSPCA Senior Inspector Daniel Bode said there was no record of the incident being reported to the animal welfare service.
“Every cruelty complaint reported to us is taken very seriously and a report of this nature would be extremely concerning,” Mr Bode said.
“We urge the community to report any act of cruelty to us immediately – animal cruelty is not tolerated by the RSPCA or the community and we must work together to give a voice to those that cannot speak for themselves.”
Ms Lorenz said she had noticed many stray cats in the area and blamed irresponsible owners for not having their pets de-sexed, microchipped and vaccinated.
She said she is now looking for a home for the kittens but said she would only give the animals to “responsible” owners.
To report animal cruelty contact RSPCA Victoria on 9224 2222.
