July 2, 2009

Monkey, an orange domestic short hair, and Grease, a tortie shown in the background, were found covered in oil and grease. The MSPCA-Boston is now caring for the pair during the height of kitten season. (ZT Pet News Photo Courtesy of MSPCA)

Kittens Found Covered in Oil, Grease: Discovered on a Massachusetts porch, the feline pair could be the latest victims of the summertime animal cruelty trend. The MSPCA reports cases of kitten drop-offs and animal cruelty spike during July and August.

BOSTON -- A box of kittens is not an unusual arrival at animal shelters during the summer months, infamously known as "kitten season." But on Friday, June 26, the two 3-month-old kittens which a Good Samaritan brought to the MSPCA in Boston, were not an ordinary drop-off case.

"We haven't seen something like this on a regular basis," said Brian Adams, spokesman for MSPCA-Angell. "It was told to us that he had seen them on a porch and they were covered in oil and grease, so he grabbed them and brought them over to us."

Found somewhere in Mattapan, the kittens were covered 100 percent from head-to-toe in motor oil and grease.

"It's a fairly unique form of cruelty -- if that is actually what happened to these kittens, if someone actually did this to them," Adams said.

After 10 baths in Dawn, the kittens' coats are still spotted with the residual, and possibly toxic, material. As they shed patches of fur, MSPCA-Boston is caring for the pair with daily baths.

Adams estimates it could be another week or two before Grease and Monkey, as named by the nonprofit, will be ready to go home. But there is yet one more hurdle that Grease could have to clear, as Adams is concerned her tail might need to be amputated due to injuries from the oil and grease.

As word spreads about the case, the MSPCA's Law Enforcement department requests that any witnesses come forward to help determine if their injuries were intentionally caused or may have been an accident.

"Animal cruelty occurs throughout the year, however over the past six years allegations of animal cruelty climb by about 33 percent each July and August," Peter Gollub, the MSPCA's director of law enforcement, said in a released statement.

Authorities suspect Grease and Monkey's unusual predicament could mean they are the latest victims in an animal cruelty trend.

The MSPCA's Law Enforcement officers respond to 240 allegations of animal cruelty in Massachusetts each month on average. However, in July and August that number rises to roughly 320 allegations of animal cruelty.

"There are many contributing factors to the increase in allegations of animal cruelty including a rise in outdoor temperatures, increased pet abandonment during the warmer months and the fact that people are out and about more often to witness acts of animal cruelty," Gollub said.

While authorities work to determine the origins of Grease and Monkey's injuries, the female kittens are just two of countless young felines looking for homes in the coming days and months.

"One of the things that is fortunate, when we do have cases like this, it does highlight issues that are going on in animal welfare," Adams said. "To show people, through two kittens, that we do receive thousands of kittens through the summer.

"Any day we could receive a few dozen kittens and that is not unusual, in as much as we could receive 100 in a week."

The independent organization, which is fully donor funded, receives about 28,000 animals annually, but in 2009 that number will be limited to between 17,000 to 20,000. The MSPCA is in the process of closing three of its seven adoption centers.

"In 2008, we lost about 25 percent of our endowment, a little more than 11 million," Adams said of the impact the down-turned market has had on the organization which also operates two animal hospitals, a law enforcement department and an advocacy arm.

Closing the centers, which cared for a combined total of 11,000 animals last year, were necessary for the open-admission shelter system to "stay afloat."

With the last center to close in September, Adams says they have already watched people begin to surrender their animals to their local shelters or drive to the next nearest MSPCA facility.

The remaining adoption centers are located in Boston, Centerville, Methuen and Nantucket. The three closures are coupled with the downsizing of several programs and departments at the MSPCA's Boston offices, which in full effect will eliminate 46 positions, impacting 38 people.

But Adams is hopeful about the MSPCA's future, as well as the abundant need for permanent homes of the summer's rash of kittens.

"Massachusetts has an incredible empathy for animals," he said. "There are many people who will step up and help them once they are notified about what is going on."

Contact the MSPCA's Law Enforcement department with tips on the case of Grease and Monkey, or other suspected cases of abuse in Massachusetts, at 800-628-5808.

Robin Wallace, Zootoo Pet News editor, can be reached at rwallace@zootoo.com.