Newborn Kittens Tossed Out Of Moving Car In Duluth; $5K Reward Offered

DULUTH, GA — PETA is offering a $5,000 reward after authorities say a person tossed three newborn kittens out of their moving car last week at a busy Duluth intersection.

Duluth Police told Patch Monday the incident occurred the night of April 4 at the intersection of Pleasant Hill Road and Steve Reynolds Boulevard. Police initially reported two kittens were found by a woman but told Patch a third kitten that was later found died.

PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said the kittens were thrown out of a white SUV near a car dealership.

The woman who found the two kittens kept them overnight and took them to Planned PEThood the next morning, police said in a past Facebook post.

"Planned PEThood called DPD, and we immediately sent out a compassionate cat dad to help," read the police post.

Duluth Police told Patch Monday there are no cameras in the intersection that record, leading to no information about a suspect and "making the investigation difficult."

PETA learned of the story from a donor who noticed the police department's Facebook post, Alex Baldwin, captive wildlife advocacy specialist, said.

The reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

"Animals feel pain and stress just like we do, especially kittens, and that’s why they depend on us to protect them," Baldwin said, adding it is essential to report animal neglect for a quick response. "It’s urgent that we call authorities immediately. That animal’s life depends on it."

He said animal cruelty should be deemed a red flag to a community, and he urged people to take action before animal violence occurs.

"The idea that newborn kittens were thrown out of a moving vehicle (and) were just left there, presumably to die, is just a heinous thing to consider," he said.

Baldwin noted signs of animal distress include an outcry, pacing, the display of injuries and favoring one leg over the other when the animal walks.

Anyone with information can call the Duluth Police Department at (770) 476-4151. Animal cruelty cases can be reported through PETA's website.

Patch tried to reach out to Planned PEThood Monday to learn the status of the two kittens but was unsuccessful.