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In a troubling incident in Putnam County, Florida, a man from Hawthorne has been arrested on allegations of discarding five newborn kittens in a trash can, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
The authorities responded to a call from a concerned woman who heard the distressing cries of kittens coming from the garbage. Upon investigation, she discovered two plastic bags containing the tiny animals. Further inquiries led deputies to a neighbor who had installed surveillance cameras on the property. The footage allegedly showed 36-year-old Tyler Holtz disposing of the bags in the trash.
The kittens, found with their umbilical cords still attached, were estimated to be only about five hours old. Unfortunately, their mother was not located.
The woman who made the discovery quickly arranged for the kittens to receive emergency veterinary care. Sadly, four of the five kittens did not survive. The remaining kitten was reported to be undergoing treatment at a clinic in Ocala as of Tuesday, according to the sheriff’s office.
Holtz was taken into custody on April 25 and faces five counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty for allegedly abandoning the kittens. As of April 28, he remained in jail. If convicted, a first-degree misdemeanor in Florida can result in a prison sentence of up to one year.