Article directly from the SPCA website: http://www.spcastjohns.org 


News Release - May 18, 2008

Kitten Taken from St. John's SPCA

May 18, 2008 – The St. John's SPCA is asking for the public's help in locating an 8-week-old kitten that was taken from the shelter on RCAF Road at approximately 3:00 p.m. today. The kitten named Nora is a Siamese cross and was one of the 16 cats that were abandoned in the Holloway Street apartment in St. John's this week. A picture of Nora is available on the SPCA's website at www.spcastjohns.org.

Members of the public who were at the SPCA on Sunday witnessed a blonde woman of medium height in her early forties leaving the shelter with a kitten in her purse. By the time SPCA staff were notified, the woman had left the shelter via the main door. It is not known if the woman in question was driving a car or how she left the shelter parking lot.

The SPCA believes the woman in question made a visit to the shelter the previous day, Saturday, May 17. In a conversation with a staff member on Saturday, the woman said that she had come into St. John's from Placentia on the bus. She said she wanted to look around and view the cats available for adoption. It is unknown if the information the woman provided is true and if she is from the Placentia area.

"We are asking for Nora to be returned to the shelter with no questions asked, so that she can go to a good adoptive home that was pre-screened by the SPCA. This kitten has already been through enough and must be returned to the SPCA immediately," said Debbie Powers, SPCA Shelter Director. "We are devastated that someone would walk into a volunteer organization where everyday we try to help animals, and take a kitten," Powers added.

A family from Central Newfoundland who had been approved by the SPCA to adopt Nora drove in on Sunday to sign the adoption papers and take her home. The adopting family was at the SPCA at the same time the kitten was taken. Last month, the family

from Central had to put their cat to sleep, as she was sick. The family is heart-broken that Nora was taken while they were at the SPCA.

Anyone who has information about the missing kitten is asked to call the SPCA 709.726.0301 or the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.

About the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
The SPCA has been in Newfoundland since 1888. The mission of the SPCA is to relieve the suffering of animals. Through education, the SPCA promotes responsible pet ownership and encourages spaying and neutering.
The Newfoundland and Labrador SPCA provides province-wide leadership on matters relating to the prevention of cruelty to animals and the promotion of animal welfare, and works with its branches to encourage humane and suitable animal care; calls attention to unacceptable practices that harm animals; investigates cruelty complaints; advocates for humane laws; and provides care to all animals in need. For more information go to www.spcastjohns.org.