The BC SPCA is seeking the public’s help in an investigation into the suspected abuse of a three-week-old kitten found in the middle of the road on East 33^rd Avenue near Slocan Street in Vancouver on June 4. The kitten was suffering from a deep laceration that cut all the way through his skin and into muscle around the entire circumference of his neck.

“It is hard to imagine that an injury of this type and severity was caused accidentally,” said Lorie Chortyk, general manager of community relations for the BC SPCA.

“It would appear that the laceration was caused by a wire of some kind, wrapped tightly around the kitten’s neck. We are definitely treating this as a cruelty investigation.”  She said the kitten was brought to the Vancouver SPCA by a Good Samaritan, who saw the critically ill kitten lying in the road and immediately rushed him to the SPCA.

“It really is a miracle that he survived such a grave injury and we are grateful to the individual who took the time to bring him to us,” says Chortyk. She says the SPCA has named the tiny kitten “Stanley” for his fighting spirit and in honour of the Canucks. “We couldn’t give Stanley pain medication because he is so tiny and it would cause irreparable damage to his liver, but our veterinary staff immediately administered doses of antibiotics and he has made an amazing recovery.” Stanley is being fostered by an SPCA staff member and is being bottle fed and is receiving ongoing antibiotics to fight infection.

“It is hard to imagine anyone committing such a heinous act on a tiny, helpless kitten and we are very anxious for any information concerning this case,” says Chortyk. Anyone who may recognize the kitten or know anything about the case is asked to call the Vancouver SPCA shelter at 604-709-4699.

The BC SPCA conducts nearly 7,000 cruelty investigations a year and is reliant on donations from the public to continue its work. Your gift can help rescue and protect animals in need and bring abusers to justice. Please donate today.

Photo caption: Three-week-old Stanley (top) has made a miraculous recovery, seen here with BC SPCA Vancouver Branch manager Jane Talbot (below).

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.