Kitten Thrown From Car Recovering At SPCA Suncoast

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — A plucky 3-week-old kitten brought to the SPCA Suncoast's shelter in New Port Richey Tuesday is tugging at heartstrings while raising awareness about cruelty to animals.

April, as shelter workers have named her, was found by a Good Samaritan who witnessed the critter being tossed from a moving car, the SPCA reported on its Facebook page. The person scooped up the injured kitten and brought her to the 7734 Congress St. shelter for care. Once there, a medical exam revealed April was one lucky little kitten. She suffered only road rash from being thrown out of the car.

The news wasn’t all good, however.

April, as it turned out, also has a case of pneumonia, Kerrianne Farrow, SPCA Suncoast’s executive director, told Patch. That condition is making it very hard for the kitten to smell, which is lowering her appetite.

On Wednesday afternoon, April was doing a bit better, Farrow reported. “We definitely see some signs of improvement since she’s been taking antibiotics,” she said.

While the SPCA has been overwhelmed with adoption requests for April since her story broke, Farrow said it will be a while before the critter is ready for a forever home. Before being released for adoption, April will be placed as a medical-based foster with shelter staff to ensure she recovers not only from her road ordeal, but also the pneumonia. The SPCA promises to keep interested adopters in the loop about her progress.

In the meantime, April’s story is raising awareness about animal cruelty. Tales like hers, Farrow said, are all too common. She recounted the story of Scooter, a puppy found last October on the side of a road with a broken leg. Hugo the cat remains at the shelter, she added. He was found with half his body covered with chemical burns.

Niko, a dog in the SPCA’s care, was found after being dragged by car, Farrow said. X-rays taken during a medical exam revealed he had also been shot twice. Niko’s care requirements are so costly a gofundme has been created specifically to help cover surgery he still needs to recover from his ordeal.

Caring for the animals at a no-kill shelter that doesn’t receive government funding requires constant fundraising, Farrow said. “We need substantial donations to come in,” she said. Donations and grants have sustained the nonprofit since its inception in 1964, she said.

In addition to raising money to offset routine animal care and special care for critters like April and Niko, the SPCA is also in the process of fundraising to do a full kennel renovation. An estimated $100,000 is needed for the project that is hoped to add to the number of dogs the facility can take in.

To learn more about the SPCA Suncoast, visit it online. To donate to the organization, visit its donations page.

People who see acts of animal cruelty in action are encouraged to contact law enforcement. They are also asked to do what April’s rescuer did: help ensure the animal gets somewhere that can care for it. As for intervening directly, Farrow said that’s best left up to law enforcement.

It is unclear if April's former owner has been found.

Photos courtesy of SPCA Suncoast

Sign up for the New Port Richey Patch newsletter and alerts!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, too!