A pair of kittens is lucky to be alive after being thrown out of the window of a white minivan two weeks ago along the Esko exit from Interstate 35.
According to Karen Brummer, director of the Friends of Animals shelter in Cloquet, a witness stated that after realizing what he had seen being tossed into the ditch might have been kittens, he looped around and got out to take a look. After his suspicions were realized, he picked the kittens up and delivered them to the shelter.
"The first thing we noticed was that they were covered in fleas," said Brummer.
The kittens also suffered from ear mites, and they were treated for both infestations.
One of the kittens, a white medium-hair, is a female and the other, a gray tabby, is a male. Shelter workers have named them Chelsea and Chester.
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They reported that though the kittens are still somewhat traumatized due to their earlier experience, they are slowly beginning to trust those who are feeding and handling them and will likely be socialized, healthy and ready for adoption early next week.
Anyone interested in adopting these, or any other kittens or cats, is invited to visit the shelter between the hours of noon and 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The shelter has about 70 cats and a box of five kittens was waiting at the door when staff members arrived at work Monday morning.
Kittens can be adopted for $80 and adult cats for $40, said Beth Wendroth, medical coordinator for the shelter.
Friends of Animals also has another unusual situation: They have 20 cats, some kittens, from a hoarding house that have either been tested positive for feline leukemia or have been exposed to it. They are available for adoption at no cost because the shelter is trying to avoid having to euthanize them, Wendroth said. People and dogs are not susceptible to feline leukemia -- just cats, Wendroth said, so it won't be a threat to households without cats.
Call the shelter at (218) 879-1655 for more information.
