One of the cats who was found on the side of the road in Camillus.
CAMILLUS --
Camillus Police have arrested two women accused of leaving a box full of kittens on the side of Route 5, near Angus Ranch Road.
Police say it happened Thursday afternoon and that some drivers passing by stopped to help the cats.
"Actually, a couple of vehicles stopped to rescue the cats before they were hit by a car, as you can tell, there's a lot of traffic on this road and they were able to secure four of the cats. There are still some cats out here missing," says Capt. Steve Rotunno of the Camillus Police Dept.
Paul Morgan, executive director of the CNYSPCA says the women arrested told him they found the cats and did not know what to do with them.
The SPCA is currently taking care of the four kittens left in the box. They have had all their shots but need to be spayed. If you are interested in adoption you can call the SPCA at 454-4479.
Below is a press release from Camillus Police with more information:
The Camillus Police Department reports that two women were arrested by the SPCA and Camillus Police Department on May 6th 2010 in a Animal Abandonment investigation that occurred in the Town of Camillus on May 6th at approximately 3:53pm along the 2000 block of Route #5 near Angus Ranch Road. Arrested and charged are;
Marie Kimber, age 52 of 1333 Milton Avenue, Solvay New York was arrested on (1) count of Misdemeanor "Permitting an act of Cruelty" in violation of Article 26 Section 353 of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law
Linda Samuels, age 65 of 125 Caroline Avenue Solvay New York was arrested on (1) count of Misdemeanor "Animal Abandonment" in violation of Article 26 Section 355 of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law
On May 6th 2010 at approximately 3:53pm a vehicle driven by Maria Kimber was traveling eastbound in the 2000 block of Route #5 in the Town of Camillus when she pulled over and a passenger in the vehicle Linda Samuels dumped a box containing several young kittens and adult cat onto the shoulder of Route 5, leaving the cats unattended approximately three feet from the roadway.
Several motorists stopped and secured most the cats and then called the Camillus Police Department. Upon investigation a witness came forward with a suspect license plate number which led the Camillus and Solvay Police to the driver and suspect in the Village of Solvay. Camillus Police contacted the SPCA who responded to the Camillus Police Department secured the animals and proceeded to make the arrest of the suspects.
Scott Lamica is one of the individuals who discovered the cats on the side of the road and called police. Here is his account of what happened Thursday afternoon:
"I was heading home. I had just gotten off 321 when I saw a car was pulled off to the side of the road. Just as I'm passing, I see an older lady get out of the car holding a box. I see her turn and dump the box and all this stuff falls to the ground. I almost thought it looked like cats. I pulled into a restaurant to turn around to come back, but traffic was pretty heavy.
As I was waiting, I saw the car pass me. By the time I had an opening to turn, I debated following her (the passenger was the one he saw dump the cats... he never saw the driver) to get the plate number, but she was too far down the road. I thought I'd better make sure the kittens didn't run out into traffic.
The kittens were huddled together shaking. Someone else pulled up, and we put the kittens in my Jeep. We called police. He called Camillus Dog Control, who showed up to get the animals. It was one adult cat and three kittens."
Camillus Police say both Marie Kimber and Linda Samuels were issued appearance tickets by the SPCA to return to Camillus Justice Court on May 18th at 3:00 pm.
