Shelter dog sniffs out, saves 13 abandoned cats and kittens

SAYREVILLE — A curious dog out for a walk with a volunteer is being credited for "rescuing" 13 abandoned cats and kittens.

Robby, a mixed-breed American Staffordshire Terrier at Sammy’s Hope in Sayreville, pulled the volunteer toward a stack of boxes in front of the animal welfare and adoption center, according to a Facebook post by Christine David Resnick.

"He kept going back sniffing them like crazy. One box was marked bills, files another Christmas garland. Imagine how surprised the volunteer was when the boxes were opened and inside there were cats and kittens!" Resnick wrote.

"If Robbie (sic) didn't smell the kitties, they could have died in those boxes," Resnick wrote.

Sammy's Hope spokesman David Gaier said the boxes contained two adult cats, two six-month old cats, and nine kittens that could have suffocated if they hadn't been found.

"It was definitely a surprise. Thankfully we haven't seen anything like that until now. Our shelter typically don't take animal surrenders. Those are handled by the organization that has the municipal contract, Associated Humane Society of Tinton Falls"

Gaier said AHS  determined they are domesticated cats and appear to have been abandoned. "They are very gentle, very approachable. We believe, without absolutely knowing, that these cats had been in homes. It is beyond our comprehension why anyone would abandon cats and kittens in such a cruel and inhumane way.

AHS took the cats and kittens where they are all up for adoption.

The cats and kittens were taken to  AHS' Tinton Falls location where they are available for adoption.

AHS Chief of Animal Control Kevin Rooney said Sammy's Hope is reviewing surveillance video in hopes of finding who left the cats. "They're trying to find the right shot so if we can get a license plate then they could be charged with abandonment," Rooney told New Jersey 101.5.

Maggie and Berkeley, two kittens up for adoption at Animal Rescue Force, which shares space with Sammy's Hope, were stolen from the center by a couple on Saturday.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

More from New Jersey 101.5: