Kittens left in sealed litter box in Florida heat spark outrage by local shelter

BOCA RATON, Fla. (CBS12) — They were left in silence, sealed in a plastic box, with no air, no food — and almost no future.

In the blistering 93-degree South Florida heat on Sunday, staff at Tri-County Animal Rescue League discovered what they first assumed was a routine drop-off donation: a taped-up litter box left outside the shelter. But when it began to meow, everything changed.

Inside were four tiny kittens, terrified and dehydrated, shut in without air holes, water, or even the basic decency of a note, the non-profit said. No names. No ages. No history.

“This is unacceptable,” the rescue said. “Abandoning animals in such a cruel and dangerous way is not only heartbreaking, it’s potentially fatal. These babies could have died in that box.”

The rescue team acted quickly, bathing the kittens, giving them food and water, and wrapping them in soft blankets. Despite the trauma, the kittens are now safe and beginning to trust again.

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Tri-County Animal Rescue League is using this incident to remind the public that there are humane, legal options for surrendering pets. The organization emphasizes that it is always willing to work with individuals in crisis.

“If you need help, we are here to work with you, not against you,” the shelter stressed.

The shelter is now asking the public to share the story — not for outrage, but for education. These kittens were nearly lost to a moment of disregard. Now, they’re symbols of why compassion must lead the way.

“They didn’t deserve the fear. They didn’t deserve the heat,” Tri-County Animal Rescue added. “They didn’t deserve to be discarded like trash.”

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