RSPCA probe images of kitten 'dumped in bin'
Updated on 23 August 2010
An animal cruelty investigation is launched by the RSPCA after a woman was apparently caught on CCTV throwing a kitten into a wheelie bin in Coventry.
The footage, filmed by a security camera outside a house in the Stoke area of Coventry, showed a grey-haired woman stroking the cat as it walks along a wall before looking over her shoulder and dumping it into a large green rubbish bin.
The woman, wearing a white t-shirt and black trousers, is seen closing the lid of the bin before quickly walking away from the scene.
Owners Stephanie and Darryl Mann told police the cat had been left in the bin for 15 hours. Lola, who is not yet a year old, remained unhurt.
West Midlands Police told Channel 4 News the case has been passed on to the RSPCA for investigation.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "Police were alerted at 8.04pm on 22 August to a cat having being put in a wheelie bin at an address on Brays Lane, Stoke, Coventry.
"The owners reported that the cat had been left in the bin for 15 hours but emerged unhurt.
"Coventry Police have recovered CCTV of the incident and have judged it to be a matter for the RSPCA as an act of animal cruelty."
An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "The RSPCA is appalled by allegations that a cat was placed inside a wheelie bin in Coventry in what would appear to be a mindless act of animal cruelty. Investigations are on-going in liaison with the police."
