Horrifying Kitten Cruelty Cases Draw Attention, Donations In Solano County

SOLANO COUNTY, CA – Animal lovers are pledging donations after two Solano County animal cruelty incidents - one involving two newly born kittens last month, and a second case of three kittens dropped off in a bag -- that likely stem from them being used as bait for fighting dogs.

Ine one case, "Will" and "Grace" were taken by a woman to the Humane Society of the North Bay on Oct. 16 just as the Vallejo facility was closing. The woman said she suspected the severely injured kittens were bound as bait for dog fights, according to Leona Edejer, manager of a Pet Food Express store in Benicia and a member of Solano County Friends of Animals.

Another woman who was at the Humane Society of the North Bay to adopt a cat as it was closing on Oct. 16 took the two injured kittens to a veterinarian.

Both the 3- to 4-week-old kittens' legs were tightly bound with rubber bands. The injuries to Grace were too severe, blood tests showed sepsis and she was euthanized, Edejer said.

"All four legs were necrotic and gangrene spread to the shoulder," Edejer said. Will's injuries were less severe but he may have his right rear leg amputated to the shoulder, she said.

Nearly $7,000 toward the $10,000 goal has been pledged for Will's medical care and recovery via a campaign on the crowdfunding site GoFundMe. More information about the campaign and ways to donate can be found here.

The owners of Pet Food Express Benicia have offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

The Solano County Sheriff's Office's criminal investigations division is investigating the incident, Sgt. Tim Baffico said.

The woman who took the kittens to the Humane Society of the North Bay denied she rescued the kittens from a dog fighting ring, Baffico said.

"She said someone did bad things to the kittens that she found in a field," Baffico said.

"It's obvious someone was cruel to the first two kittens. It's still an open case," he said.

Edejer said three more kittens with similar injuries were taken to the Humane Society of the North Bay about a week after the cruelty to Will and Grace came to light. The report about three other kittens with similar injuries involved a male who dropped off the animals that were tired and had fleas, Baffico said.

"A man came to the Humane Society of the North Bay on Oct. 20 and dropped a green bag on the deck — he refused to provide any information, just dropped the bag, walked to his car and drove away," the shelter said. "When shelter staff opened the bag, they drew a collective horrified breath — three tiny kittens lay there, soaking wet as if they’d been dunked in water. One wasn’t moving very much and had a hair tie on his back legs."

Officials speculated the trio — now named "Sabrina," "Pumpkin" and "Salem" — had most likely been used as “bait kittens.”

"Heinous dog fighters bind their back legs with rubber bands, rendering them helpless to run from dogs they are training to fight," staff said.

All three had injuries to their hind legs, with one, Sabrina, unable to walk as it was too painful, staff said.

A CrowdRise fundraising campaign is underway for the three, and to date, $1,020 has been raised toward the $2,500 goal. More details here.

"Sabrina is making a comeback, while Pumpkin and Salem continue to thrive with love and care," stated an Oct. 27 update on the fundraising page. "Yesterday they went to their new foster home where they'll continue to get treatment on their little back paws and for upper-respiratory infections."

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ALSO SEE: Victim of Brutal Attack Recovering; East Bay Community Rallies to Help. Friends established a fundraising page to help San Ramon resident who confronted teens causing disturbance on school playground.

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--Bay City News contributed to this report/Images of Will and Grace via GoFundMe Kittens in need of support! and Pumpkin, Salem and Sabrina via CrowdRise SAVE KITTENS USED FOR BAIT