A woman dumped five kittens from a cardboard box at Don Eisele Park in Wilton Manors on Sunday, prompting a police investigation after surveillance video captured the incident. Peter Carey was walking his dog when he witnessed the abandonment and immediately rescued four of the five kittens. Jason Miller’s surveillance camera recorded the cruelty at the park.
“As I got closer, I saw kittens running into the bushes, and then I knew they had dumped these kittens in the park,” Carey said. He found four out of the five kittens and took them home immediately after witnessing the woman drive away. Carey described seeing a red car pull up to the park gates before the woman got out with the cardboard box.
“She must have had to pass a veterinarian clinic, a pet store, the shelter, to dump the cats out,” Carey said. “You left your house. Why wouldn’t you just take them to the right place?” The fifth kitten was found Monday with the help of trappers working in the area.
“We’re just so happy we got the last kitten,” said Hope Gold, with Castaways Animal Rescue. The rescue organization assisted in locating the final kitten that had initially escaped into the park’s vegetation. All five kittens are now safe and receiving care.
Carey has found homes for two out of the five kittens since the Sunday incident. “There’s definitely a better way to handle the situation, and they must have driven past shelters, vets, pet stores, and for them to just be so heartless and dump helpless kittens in the park is just beyond me,” Carey said. The remaining three kittens still need permanent homes.
“I wouldn’t call myself a hero,” Carey said. “You see these little kittens in need and your heart goes out to them.” Despite his modest assessment, Carey’s quick action likely saved the lives of all five abandoned animals. He couldn’t believe what he was witnessing during his normal morning dog walk.
Wilton Manors Police confirmed they are investigating the animal abandonment case and asking anyone with information to contact them. The surveillance video provides clear evidence of the woman’s actions at the park gates. Officers are working to identify the woman who abandoned the kittens.
Anyone interested in adopting the remaining kittens can call Carey at 407-310-2406 or Brenda at 786-353-8415. The kittens are healthy and ready for adoption into loving homes. The case highlights the importance of proper animal surrender procedures through legitimate shelters and rescue organizations rather than abandonment.