Four six-week-old kittens were placed into an after-hours library chute at Greenacres Library in Adelaide on Saturday, January 10, at approximately 10:25 PM. CCTV footage shows a man placing the kittens into the chute.
A staff member discovered the kittens the following Monday. They appeared unharmed and were taken to the Animal Welfare League in Wingfield for assessment. The kittens have since been rehomed with foster families.
This incident is the third occurrence of kittens being left in the same library chute.
A Port Adelaide Enfield Council spokesperson highlighted the dangers of placing animals in library return chutes due to the risk of harm from heavy books. The council referred the incident to the RSPCA for investigation and provided CCTV footage.
The RSPCA, which handles animal cruelty prosecutions in South Australia, has requested community assistance to identify the individual in the CCTV footage. The maximum penalty for animal abandonment in South Australia can include up to two years' imprisonment or a $20,000 fine.