An animal charity has said it is facing an “epidemic” of people dumping unwanted kittens in plastic bags and boxes.
Donegal-based charity Animals In Need has more than 100 of the animals which have been either abandoned or handed into the centre.
The group has detailed some of the horrific incidents in which members of the public have tried to dispose of the animals.
Some have been left in plastic bags in fields, others were left in a box at a pier in Donegal town.
However, the charity said it is particularly disgusted by one incident which involved two kittens being dumped in Ballybofey.
The tiny animals were left inside a sealed plastic bag filled with water which was then left in a bin outside a takeaway in the town.
An Animals In Need spokesman said: “In this case, some heartless person deliberately put the kittens into a plastic bag, filled it with water, sealed it shut and then dumped it in a rubbish bin.
“The outcome they had planned for these little ones is clear and it was only a fluke they were found alive.”
Thankfully local residents heard the kittens crying and they were brought to Animals In Need where they fully recovered. The spokesman added: “We have had kittens being found all over. Most of these were only found by luck, they weren’t meant to be found.
“We’ve had kittens dumped in a box in Stranorlar, seven found in a wheelie bin in Carndonagh, three more were sealed in a box in Convoy and left to suffocate and five newborn kittens were found in a plastic bag on Donegal Pier.”
The volunteer said this is just the tip of the iceberg and appealed for anyone interested in giving the animals a forever home to contact them on 087 764 4420.
