- Tennessee, USA -
The Knoxville Police Department said in a news release that on Monday, October 25, a traffic stop on a stolen U-Haul truck resulted in the rescue of seven kittens and the arrest of two individuals.
KPD Officers saw the U-Haul truck, which was listed as stolen, parked in the 2800 block of East Fifth Avenue before moving away.
After KPD Officer Curran conducted a traffic stop, he found seven kittens kept in the back with no open air or open ventilation.
Police said Officers also found a box between the seats in the cab of the truck with what appeared to be drugs and baggies that officers said are commonly used in selling narcotics.
Police arrested 37-years-old TARA JEAN BOWMAN and 34-years-old SHAWN MICHAEL MARTIN (both pictured below) and charged them with seven counts of animal cruelty, possession of methamphetamine, possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia, simple possession and theft of property of $2,500 but less than $10,000.
According to WATE, BOWMAN told police she had rented the U-Haul in September and had been sleeping in it for around three weeks. As she opened the back of the truck for the officers, a small kitten fell out. The other six were also in the back. Officers said three kittens were in cages and the other three were loose with a clutter of large and heavy items with trash.
As stated by the arrest report, the poor kittens could have been crushed at any time with all the heavy items in the truck. It is believed the furbabies had been in the truck for the whole time that BOWMAN had it.
The kittens were later taken to Young Williams Animal Center for medical care.
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