Local police in the Sint-Truiden police zone have had a DNA analysis conducted to find out who abandoned 4 newborn kittens in a dustbin. It’s believed to be the very first time that the owners of abandoned kittens are being tracked down on the basis of DNA.
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4 kittens dumped in a rubbish bin: police use DNA to identify culprit
Colin Clapson
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The 4 newborn kittens were found in a rubbish bin at a bus stop in Nieuwerkerken(Limburg) on Saturday 13 July. Not-for-profit organisation 'Poezenpootjes' of Geetbets was called in to collect the kittens and was able to place them with a foster family for the time being. Whether all the kittens will survive remains to be seen. Local police are confident of identifying the owners of the kittens, who left them behind. DNA samples have already been taken.
‘It is done in the same way as in humans,’ explains commissioner Herman Missotten of the Sint-Truiden police zone. ‘The animal welfare division of the environment department took a DNA sample from the victims, in this case the kittens. Samples were also taken from the suspected mother cat to determine whether there is a match.’
A DNA test in a case involving dumped kittens means taking the police investigation to a new level. Commissioner Missotten also realises this. ‘To my knowledge, it is the very first time it’s been done in Flanders. Animal welfare conducts the DNA investigation. The costs are not borne by the public prosecutor or our police zone.’ As the investigation is still in full swing, the police would not disclose any further details. ‘The DNA samples have already been taken. We are now waiting for the results of the investigation,’ the police say.
The perpetrator risks a jail sentence and a hefty fine. ‘That will be decided by the judge, but I do hope that the culprit will be banned from keeping animals for life,’ Commissioner Missotten concludes. ‘We may have become a society that throws a lot away, but it would be hugely sad if we also start throwing live animals in with the rubbish!'