*Warning: Graphic images of an injured animal are featured in this article.
SAN DIEGO (KUSI/FOX 5) — The San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement team is asking for the public’s help in finding the person or people responsible for fastening a zip tie around a kitten’s mouth and leaving it to suffer.
According to a press release from the San Diego Humane Society, the 3-month-old kitten was found on Sept. 23 in the Stockton neighborhood of San Diego near 33rd Street.
The kitten, which has since been named Derry, was found with a zip tie fastened around his mouth and neck, which was cutting into both corners of his mouth while leaving an injury on his neck.
Derry being attended to after being found with zip tie around mouth and neck
Derry being attended to after being found with zip tie around mouth and neck
Derry being attended to after being found with zip tie around mouth and neck
Derry being attended to after being found with zip tie around mouth and neck
Derry being attended to after being found with zip tie around mouth and neck
He wandered into a home in search of food and water, where a community member safely contained him and contacted the Humane Society. He was not wearing a collar and the person had never seen him before in the area.
A Humane Officer responded and took Derry for emergency care at VEG ER for Pets in Mission Valley, where the zip tie was removed and pain medication was administered. Derry was then transferred to the Humane Society.
Derry had cuts at both corners of his mouth and a mark on his neck, but had no obvious fractures according to X-rays. Veterinarians repaired a deeper wound on the left side of his mouth and neutered him. He was also treated for fleas and is currently recovering from his injuries.
Derry recovering with caring staff (San Diego Humane Society).
Despite what he had endured, Derry was still social and affectionate with those caring for him. He was officially adopted on Tuesday by a member of San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement team.
“There is no excuse for a zip tie cutting into a kitten’s mouth, and no excuse for leaving him to suffer,” said Jace Huggins, Vice President and Chief of Humane Law Enforcement at San Diego Humane Society. “We do not yet know how this happened, and we are not going to guess. What we know is that Derry was hungry and in pain when a neighbor did the right thing and called us. If someone knows anything about this case, we’d like to hear from them. No detail is too small.”
Derry is healing nicely with the help and support of the Humane Society. (San Diego County Humane Society).
Investigators are asking anyone with information about how Derry was injured to contact officers by calling 619-299-7012 (press 1 for Dispatch) or emailing investigations@sdhumane.org.
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