Sunday July 5, 2009, 2:07 am
Cat Defender:

Friday, July 03, 2009
Pretty Little Sleepy Survives a Suffocation and Starvation Attempt on Her Life Thanks to the Timely Intervention of a Mattress Store Employee


All that pretty seven-week-old Sleepy ever wanted out of life was a chance to live and time to explore this strange and exciting world that she had been born into through no fault of her own. Instead, what the calico kitten got was to be cruelly taken from her mother and sealed up inside a brown box without either ventilation or milk.

She then was unceremoniously dumped on the doorstep of a Sleepy's outlet at 2555 Grand Army of the Republic Highway in Swansea, Massachusetts, forty-seven miles south of Beantown. This horrific act of animal cruelty occurred sometime between the store's closing at 10 p.m. on June 23rd and its reopening at 10 a.m. the following day although it is conceivable that she could have been trapped inside the box for an even lengthier period of time.

Upon arrival at work on June 24th, Michael Medeiros picked up the package and, not noticing anything unusual about it, nonchalantly tossed it on his desk and forgot about it. He was not even planning on opening it until later in the day.

"It looked like a UPS box," he later explained to The Herald News of nearby Fall River on June 25th. (See "Special Delivery: Kitten Found in Box at Mattress Store.") "We get deliveries of hand soap and discount tickets in boxes just like this, except this one was duct-taped."

He soon found out to his surprise, however, that this was not any ordinary delivery. "When I tossed the box on my desk, I heard a meow," he added.

Even then Medeiros failed to associate the meow with the package and instead began to scour the store for an errant cat that he thought might have crawled in overnight. It was only when he noticed that the box was moving and heard scratching coming from inside it that he belatedly put two and two together and opened it. Inside he discovered Sleepy and immediately set her free.

"There was no ventilation on the box and there was (sic) some ants coming out of it. The kitten had an eye infection and you could tell it hadn't been that well taken care of," he told The Herald News. "There was a little bit of dry cat food inside the box, which is sad considering that kittens can't even eat that anyway. That's why the ants were inside it."

In spite of a lack of both ventilation and nourishment, the good news was that Sleepy miraculously was still alive and in pretty good shape to boot, albeit except for the eye infection. (See photo above.)

Medeiros contacted Liz Botelho of the Ernest W. Bell Animal Shelter on Stevens Road who came and took possession of Sleepy. At last report, she was said to be doing well and is available for adoption.

It also is refreshing to see the United States Postal Service (USPS) come to the rescue of a feline in distress, especially in light of its outrageous decision earlier in the year to bar a cat named Sammy from entering its facility in Notasulga, Alabama. (See Cat Defender post of February 11, 2009 entitled "U.S. Postal Service Knuckles Under to the Threats and Lies of a Cat-Hater and Gives Sammy the Boot.")

Of course, Knapp is not the only USPS employee to ever go the extra mile for the sake of a cat. For instance, Kim Pinkham of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, has taken it upon herself to rescue abandoned and abused cats and dogs that she comes across on her mail route. (See La Crosse Tribune, January 19, 2009, "Postal Carrier Helps Out Cats, Dogs Seen During Route.")

Letter carriers for the Royal Mail are even more accommodating when it comes to cats. In the village of Lyme Regis in Dorset, for example, a six-year-old tomcat named Beezley often rides along on Terry Grinter's two-wheeler as he makes his appointed rounds. (See Cat Defender post of October 13, 2008 entitled "Life Imitates Art as a Small Town in Dorset Acquires Its Very Own Version of Postman Pat and Jess in the Form of Terry and Beezley.")

In Woolavington in Somerset County, a four-year-old moggy named Charlie one day crawled into postman Nick Lock's mailbag in order to escape the rain. Apparently finding the bag to his liking, he now regularly makes the rounds with Lock. (See BBC, January 29, 2009, "Cat Helps Deliver Town's Letters.")

Being much more than simply entertaining stories, the abuses suffered by both Sleepy and Postina has revived interest in the odious practice of feline abandonment and what should be done about it. "Postina has captured the attention of pet-lovers across the globe and shone a much-needed light on the seriousness of pet abandonment," the MSPCA's Meagan Rock stated June 22nd on the organization's web site. (See "MSPCA Finds New Family for Postina.") "We also want to remind the public that Postina's story is shared by thousands of homeless cats that are dumped, neglected, as well as abused each year and come to us looking for care and a new home."

The first thing to be recognized about cat abandonment is the breadth of the problem. Not only are cats dumped in such familiar places as city streets and in the countryside, but they also are abandoned in city parks, on beaches, outside no-kill shelters, and into existing feral colonies. (See Cat Defender posts of October 19, 2006 and June 14, 2007 entitled, respectively, "Animal Rights Groups Pressure San Antonio Officials to Stop Killing Cats in Japanese Tea Gardens" and "Gulf Breeze Planning to Trap and Kill Three-Dozen Cats Left Homeless by Hurricane Ivan.")

Some individuals even abandon them outside old clothes bins located at strip malls. The world famous Dewey Readmore Books, for example, was found stuffed inside a book depository outside a library. (See Cat Defender post of December 7, 2006 entitled "After Nineteen Years of Service and Companionship, Ingrates at Iowa Library Murder Dewey Readmore Books.")

College campuses, such as Cal State Long Beach, are another popular dumping ground for unwanted cats. (See photo directly below.) So, too, are public schools. (See Cat Defender posts of July 31, 2008 and May 3, 2007 entitled, respectively, "Cal State Long Beach Is Using the Presence of Coyotes as a Pretext in Order to Get Rid of Its Feral Cats" and "Principal Who Shotgunned to Death Two Kittens at Minnesota School Is Rewarded with Similar Position in Idaho.")

It also is refreshing to see the United States Postal Service (USPS) come to the rescue of a feline in distress, especially in light of its outrageous decision earlier in the year to bar a cat named Sammy from entering its facility in Notasulga, Alabama. (See Cat Defender post of February 11, 2009 entitled "U.S. Postal Service Knuckles Under to the Threats and Lies of a Cat-Hater and Gives Sammy the Boot.")

Of course, Knapp is not the only USPS employee to ever go the extra mile for the sake of a cat. For instance, Kim Pinkham of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, has taken it upon herself to rescue abandoned and abused cats and dogs that she comes across on her mail route. (See La Crosse Tribune, January 19, 2009, "Postal Carrier Helps Out Cats, Dogs Seen During Route.")

Letter carriers for the Royal Mail are even more accommodating when it comes to cats. In the village of Lyme Regis in Dorset, for example, a six-year-old tomcat named Beezley often rides along on Terry Grinter's two-wheeler as he makes his appointed rounds. (See Cat Defender post of October 13, 2008 entitled "Life Imitates Art as a Small Town in Dorset Acquires Its Very Own Version of Postman Pat and Jess in the Form of Terry and Beezley.")

In Woolavington in Somerset County, a four-year-old moggy named Charlie one day crawled into postman Nick Lock's mailbag in order to escape the rain. Apparently finding the bag to his liking, he now regularly makes the rounds with Lock. (See BBC, January 29, 2009, "Cat Helps Deliver Town's Letters.")

Being much more than simply entertaining stories, the abuses suffered by both Sleepy and Postina has revived interest in the odious practice of feline abandonment and what should be done about it. "Postina has captured the attention of pet-lovers across the globe and shone a much-needed light on the seriousness of pet abandonment," the MSPCA's Meagan Rock stated June 22nd on the organization's web site. (See "MSPCA Finds New Family for Postina.") "We also want to remind the public that Postina's story is shared by thousands of homeless cats that are dumped, neglected, as well as abused each year and come to us looking for care and a new home."

The first thing to be recognized about cat abandonment is the breadth of the problem. Not only are cats dumped in such familiar places as city streets and in the countryside, but they also are abandoned in city parks, on beaches, outside no-kill shelters, and into existing feral colonies. (See Cat Defender posts of October 19, 2006 and June 14, 2007 entitled, respectively, "Animal Rights Groups Pressure San Antonio Officials to Stop Killing Cats in Japanese Tea Gardens" and "Gulf Breeze Planning to Trap and Kill Three-Dozen Cats Left Homeless by Hurricane Ivan.")

Some individuals even abandon them outside old clothes bins located at strip malls. The world famous Dewey Readmore Books, for example, was found stuffed inside a book depository outside a library. (See Cat Defender post of December 7, 2006 entitled "After Nineteen Years of Service and Companionship, Ingrates at Iowa Library Murder Dewey Readmore Books.")

College campuses, such as Cal State Long Beach, are another popular dumping ground for unwanted cats. (See photo directly below.) So, too, are public schools. (See Cat Defender posts of July 31, 2008 and May 3, 2007 entitled, respectively, "Cal State Long Beach Is Using the Presence of Coyotes as a Pretext in Order to Get Rid of Its Feral Cats" and "Principal Who Shotgunned to Death Two Kittens at Minnesota School Is Rewarded with Similar Position in Idaho.")

In Woolavington in Somerset County, a four-year-old moggy named Charlie one day crawled into postman Nick Lock's mailbag in order to escape the rain. Apparently finding the bag to his liking, he now regularly makes the rounds with Lock. (See BBC, January 29, 2009, "Cat Helps Deliver Town's Letters.")

Being much more than simply entertaining stories, the abuses suffered by both Sleepy and Postina has revived interest in the odious practice of feline abandonment and what should be done about it. "Postina has captured the attention of pet-lovers across the globe and shone a much-needed light on the seriousness of pet abandonment," the MSPCA's Meagan Rock stated June 22nd on the organization's web site. (See "MSPCA Finds New Family for Postina.") "We also want to remind the public that Postina's story is shared by thousands of homeless cats that are dumped, neglected, as well as abused each year and come to us looking for care and a new home."

The first thing to be recognized about cat abandonment is the breadth of the problem. Not only are cats dumped in such familiar places as city streets and in the countryside, but they also are abandoned in city parks, on beaches, outside no-kill shelters, and into existing feral colonies. (See Cat Defender posts of October 19, 2006 and June 14, 2007 entitled, respectively, "Animal Rights Groups Pressure San Antonio Officials to Stop Killing Cats in Japanese Tea Gardens" and "Gulf Breeze Planning to Trap and Kill Three-Dozen Cats Left Homeless by Hurricane Ivan.")

Some individuals even abandon them outside old clothes bins located at strip malls. The world famous Dewey Readmore Books, for example, was found stuffed inside a book depository outside a library. (See Cat Defender post of December 7, 2006 entitled "After Nineteen Years of Service and Companionship, Ingrates at Iowa Library Murder Dewey Readmore Books.")

College campuses, such as Cal State Long Beach, are another popular dumping ground for unwanted cats. (See photo directly below.) So, too, are public schools. (See Cat Defender posts of July 31, 2008 and May 3, 2007 entitled, respectively, "Cal State Long Beach Is Using the Presence of Coyotes as a Pretext in Order to Get Rid of Its Feral Cats" and "Principal Who Shotgunned to Death Two Kittens at Minnesota School Is Rewarded with Similar Position in Idaho.")

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Sunday July 5, 2009, 6:30 am
:( Very trouubling, Thanks Raffi!

Sunday July 5, 2009, 11:49 am
very sad there are just so meny good way's that is for sure,and it takes so little effert to save a life,that is why i don't get it,i just don't get it!

Sunday July 5, 2009, 6:25 pm
I have 2 cats and this is sickening, thanks Raffi

Sunday July 5, 2009, 7:30 pm
I'm glad Sleepy is ok. I hope she gets a loving home soon. Thanks Raffi.

Sunday July 5, 2009, 9:42 pm
I see little tears in her eyes

Sunday July 5, 2009, 9:58 pm

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Monday July 6, 2009, 3:00 am
great... so glad that all ended well, hop her little life will be blessed and that she may never have to go through another ordeal like this again.

Monday July 6, 2009, 4:36 pm
There is a special place in hell for the monsters that do these terrible things to animals.
Please let a home be found for this sad eyed little one.
Prayers are on the way sweety.

Friday July 17, 2009, 1:36 am
Such a beautiful delicate face! How could anyone dump this adorable little kitten. I am just thankful she is doing well and I am praying that Sleepy is adopted into a permanent loving home.
SALLY D.

Friday July 17, 2009, 9:27 pm
It is disgusting the barbaric way humans treat animals. It amazes me the ways people abuse animals. only a sick monster could have done this to a kitten.
I hope she finds a happy forever home.
It is so important to sterize our pets. if pet owners would be responsible and not allow thier animals to have babies we would not have the over population problems.
I have 17 cants we have taken in that were strays or unwanted pets and all are sterized. It ishould be a federal law that ALL PETS must be sterized before they come into thier first heat. We have to get the over popluation of animals under control.