Trespassing Call Led to Kitten’s Rescue

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — A routine trespassing call in New Port Richey took an unusual turn Thursday when two Pasco County deputies found themselves rescuing a kitten as a bonus.

When Deputies Keelie Peckham and James Cantagallo arrived at the location near Ridge Road where the call had originated, they couldn’t help but notice the sound of a crying kitten, the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media. A quick look around led the pair to a small, 8-week-old kitten that had been tied up.

The deputies made contact with two people who told them they could not pay for the kitten, the email said. They had tied it up to keep it from running away.

“The kitten was bloated, had fleas, smelled of urine and had visible marks from being tied,” the sheriff’s office reported.

After handling the trespassing call, Deputy Peckham drove the kitten to Gulfview Animal Hospital for care. Staff there provided the medical care the little critter needed and sent the two on their way.

It seems the kitten managed to steal at least one heart during its time at the sheriff's office. A member of the agency ended up taking it giving it a home.

See also: Clearwater’s Injured Eagle on the Mend at Busch Gardens

As for the people involved in the original call, the sheriff’s office reports they were charged with trespassing. No animal abuse charges were filed. Their identities have not been released.

Pasco County deputies aren’t the only law enforcement officers who have gone above and beyond in recent weeks to help out a creature in need. Not too long ago, Clearwater Police and Fire & Rescue personnel helped save an eagle found injured on Countryside Boulevard during heavy morning traffic. The bird, police said, had been hit by a vehicle and appeared to have a damaged wing.

Hoping to save the critter, first responders blocked off traffic and were able to bring the eagle into "protective custody."

While closing the road off to traffic during the rescue may have ruffled a few feathers, those first responders were happy to report that female eagle was successfully saved. At last report, she was on the mend at Busch Gardens of Tampa Bay after undergoing surgery to repair her wing.

Photo courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office