THE DALLES, OR (KPTV) -
Four kittens were put in a sealed container and abandoned outside in The Dalles, where temperatures hit 104 degrees.
Fortunately, they all survived.
"This is no way for kittens to be treated," said Jerilee Drynan, shelter operations manager.
A maintenance worker at the Home at Last Humane Society found the little kittens on Monday. They were stuffed in a Rubbermaid container and their mother was in a crate stacked on top. The kittens are only about 6 weeks old.
"So when he opened it there were four crying, very overheated, kittens in here on a pillow," said Drynan. "Very dirty. Very scared and very, very hot."
There's a sign at the Humane Society building that says in bold letters not to drop off an animal during closed hours.
Doing so is a crime punishable by a fine and up to a year in jail.
These cats were dropped off out of view of the building's surveillance cameras.
It's not clear how long they were outside before the maintenance worker found them.
Staff at the shelter said, strangely, it appears the kittens and cat were otherwise taken care of very well.
A note left with the animals listed their names and vaccination records.
The shelter plans to put the kittens up for adoption after they are spayed and neutered.
This could have been tragic," said Drynan. "This could have been deadly. This breaks out heart."
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