Kittens Thrown from Twickenham Bridge Find New Homes After Thames Rescue
Kittens thrown from Twickenham Bridge into the River Thames have been rescued and rehomed, after a dramatic late-night incident that left passers-by scrambling down the riverbank to save them from freezing water.
The incident took place on 30 November, when three young kittens were thrown from the bridge into the river. One was intercepted before hitting the water. The other two were swept downstream before becoming stranded on a mudbank, where they were eventually found barely alive.
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Witnesses described a frantic rescue effort, with members of the public climbing down into thick mud to reach the animals as the tide continued to move.
One rescuer told the court that they emerged “covered in mud, holding kittens that were frozen and almost dead”.
The animals were taken to a veterinary practice, where they spent three weeks recovering before being rehomed. Two of the kittens have since been adopted by people involved in the rescue and now live in Chiswick. The third has gone to a new home in Suffolk.
The case was heard at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court, where Andrew Shephard, 58, admitted three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
The court was told that Shephard had been heavily intoxicated at the time and was struggling with alcohol dependency. It was accepted that he did not intend to kill the kittens, though the prosecution argued that his actions placed them at serious risk of death.
Shephard is due to be sentenced in February.
Under UK law, animal cruelty offences can carry custodial sentences, fines and bans on keeping animals. Guidance on offences and penalties is set out under the Animal Welfare Act and explained in detail by the RSPCA.
The incident has prompted renewed calls from animal welfare groups for members of the public to report suspected cruelty and seek help for those struggling with addiction before harm is done.
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[Image Credit | BBC]
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