Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of a kitten trapped inside a garbage can at Hillsboro Garbage Disposal on SW Minter Bridge Road in unincorporated Washington County, just south of Hillsboro.
A garbage collector was working to empty a trash can at a property on SW Minter Bridge Road, just north of the Hillsboro Garbage Disposal location. While trying to empty the can using a hydraulic arm, the driver noticed the contents of the can were not emptying. Upon further inspection, he noticed a small cat, encased in spray foam, hanging upside down from its back legs. The driver knew the cat was still alive because he could hear it whining.
The driver took the garbage can back to the Hillsboro Garbage Disposal facility where shop staff worked together to remove the 8-week-old male kitten from the spray foam and take it to a local veterinarian for care.
The trash can comes from a property with multiple structures, including two residences and several rented outbuildings. The kitten likely belongs to one of two different feral cats that live on the property, both with litters of kittens. With all the people coming and going from the property, it’s unclear who may be responsible for this act of animal cruelty.
The kitten is recovering at Washington County Animal Services’ Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter and is expected to make a full recovery. The cat will be returned to its owners once the investigation is completed.
If anyone has any tips, contact Cpl. Brandon Talbott at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office by calling 503-846-2700.