Three tiny kittens, barely a week old and not yet even able to open their eyes, were discovered abandoned in a rucksack near Upwey Railway Station this week in a case that has shocked animal lovers across Dorset.
The vulnerable animals — two girls and one boy — were found by a member of the public on Tuesday and taken into the care of Animals In Need – Weymouth, where volunteers are now fighting to keep them alive through round-the-clock bottle feeding every two hours.
Rescuers say the kittens were “very lucky” to have been found when they were. At such a young age, kittens are completely dependent on warmth, feeding and care from their mother. Left exposed for long, especially overnight, they could easily have died from cold, dehydration or starvation.
The charity has confirmed the kittens are responding well to care and will remain with the rescue until they are fully weaned and independent. They will then be transferred to Cats Protection where they will be neutered, microchipped and prepared for adoption into permanent homes.
But while the story thankfully may yet have a happy ending, the circumstances surrounding their abandonment raise deeply uncomfortable questions about the people capable of doing such a thing.
Dumping defenceless animals in a bag beside a railway station is not simply irresponsible — it reflects a disturbing level of emotional detachment. These kittens were entirely helpless, incapable of finding food, warmth or safety. Whoever left them there would have known they were consigning them to almost certain death unless somebody intervened.
Animal welfare experts have long pointed out that deliberate cruelty or neglect towards animals can often reveal a broader absence of empathy. While financial hardship, mental health struggles or unexpected litters can leave owners overwhelmed, there are still humane alternatives available. Rescue organisations across Dorset repeatedly offer support, advice and rehoming assistance without judgement.
That is what makes cases like this so upsetting. Help exists. Compassion exists. Yet somebody still chose abandonment.
To their credit, the volunteers at Animals In Need – Weymouth have responded not with anger alone but with an offer of practical help, appealing for the owner to come forward so the mother cat can be safely spayed and prevented from producing further unwanted litters.
In a world that can often feel increasingly indifferent, it is perhaps the contrast that stands out most starkly: one person discarded these tiny lives as though they were rubbish, while strangers immediately stepped in to save them.
WHO TO CONTACT FOR HELP
It’s sometimes hard to know who best to contact when you need help for a creature, and many turn to Facebook, which can often result in replies that are not always helpful or correct. Often we find ourselves in a position where we are racing against time, trying to prevent a saveable creature from being taken to a vet to be put to sleep, or alternatively, trying to educate somebody that who they are trying to save is actually suffering and sadly needs that one-way trip to a vet promptly.
Hopefully here you will find some helpful contacts:
Sick/injured birds. If the bird has an obviously broken wing, has lesions on its face or body, or shows signs of respiratory distress, that needs to go straight to a vet. Please call the practice beforehand; don’t just walk in with a bird, as they may wish to meet you outside and take the bird through another entrance. Vet numbers are listed below. Any birds not showing the above symptoms, please message the page and we’ll help if we can.
Swans. For a sick/injured swan or one causing concern for any reason, call Derek on 07423564362. If you cannot get hold of him or he cannot attend straight away, drop us a message.
Hedgehogs. Please call Paula’s Wildlife Rescue at 07814168868 or Hedgehog Friendly Portland at 07815012163. If you cannot get hold of either of those and need somewhere to leave the hedgehog straightaway, message the page. One of us should be able to help temporarily until the appropriate rescue can be contacted.
Loose dogs/Stray cats. Message the page, one of us should be able to come and scan for a microchip. We can also potentially help the animal in the case of it not being able to be immediately reunited.
Feral cats/kittens. Please message the page; we can help with trapping, TNR etc.
Rehoming cats. If you are in the unfortunate position of needing to rehome your own cat, please call local Cats Protection on 01305262737
Microchipping. If you would like your dog, cat, rabbit, or ferret microchipped, please call licenced implanter Kim on 07979651303. This is done in your own home, so it’s less traumatic and around half the cost of having it done at a vets.
Lost Dogs. If you have lost your dog, please let us know. Some of us are volunteers with both Drone SAR and DogLost and have equipment that can help in the search.
VET NUMBERS:
Medivet, Portland 01305823301
Vets4Pets, Weymouth 01305767673
Cumber Vets, Weymouth 01305784197
Medivet, Weymouth 01305776686
Castle Vets, Weymouth 01305813303
Castle Vets, Dorchester 01305267083
Southfield Vets, Dorchester 01305262913
Cumber Vets, Dorchester 01305251632
Vets4Pets, Dorchester 01305268794
Piddle Valley Vets, Puddletown 01305848820
Alan Sim, Wool 01929463729
Medivet, Wool 01929462535
Girling & Bowditch, Beaminster 01308862312
Haydon Vets, Bridport 01308456808
Bredy Vets, Bridport 01308456771
