SAN BERNARDINO, CA – A troubling incident in San Bernardino has sparked outrage as a couple was caught allegedly abandoning kittens in a desert area, prompting intervention from concerned locals. The incident unfolded on a scorching Friday afternoon, with temperatures soaring over 100 degrees, when two friends witnessed a man and a woman reportedly discarding the felines in an open field near 40th and Harrison Streets.
Elizabeth Lomeli and Kasandra Via, the two friends who observed the distressing scene, decided to confront the couple. Lomeli and Via noticed the woman attempting to shake the kittens out of their cage, claiming that a shelter would take them. The friends, unwilling to leave the animals to fend for themselves in the blistering heat, offered to take the kittens instead.
As the confrontation escalated, the mother cat managed to escape, leaving Lomeli and Via with the kittens. The couple, seemingly agitated by the intervention, packed up their cage and left the scene. Lomeli and Via promptly reported the incident to San Bernardino Animal Services, which facilitated the rescue of the kittens by an out-of-state organization.
Despite the successful rescue of the kittens, the search for the mother cat continues. A local animal rescue group, Cats of San Bernardino, has been tirelessly searching for her, deploying drones and distributing flyers, but she remains elusive. The group’s efforts have uncovered other friendly cats and kittens in the area, suggesting the possibility of additional abandonment cases.
San Bernardino police have launched a criminal investigation into the incident, as abandoning domestic animals is illegal and can result in severe penalties, including prison time and probation. Authorities are working to identify the couple involved and determine if charges will be filed.
The couple’s claim that they were turning in stray animals has been met with skepticism, as strays are typically wary of humans. Moreover, local shelters generally do not accept strays but do take in animals surrendered by owners who have attempted to rehome them.
The incident has shed light on the ongoing issue of animal abandonment in the area, prompting calls for increased awareness and stricter enforcement of animal welfare laws. Community members and animal advocates are urging individuals to seek proper channels for rehoming pets rather than resorting to abandonment.
As the investigation continues, the community remains hopeful for the safe return of the mother cat and an end to such heartless acts of animal abandonment.