As she arrived for her early shift at the BC SPCA, the volunteer spotted a plastic shopping basket sitting on the ground on the dirt track, right in front of the main gates.
When she walked over to investigate, she noticed the basket was covered with a wire cage door and sealed shut with heavy-duty tape. Peering inside, she saw four pairs of eyes staring back at her.
A tight squeeze but in good health
Angela Mather, the manager of the BC SPCA centre, explained that the poor kittens were squashed right down, which severely restricted their movement in such a tiny space.
They were immediately brought inside to be freed and given a full veterinary examination. Despite the stressful ordeal, the kittens were found to be healthy and full of life. Staff believe they had likely been raised indoors with their mother.
Fitting names and a bright future
To reflect the spot where they were abandoned, the shelter team gave them gate-themed names: Hatch, Portal, Wicket, and Lattice.
Based on their weight and size, the carers estimated they were around nine weeks old. Having already been fully weaned, they were ready to find new homes straight away. All four kittens have now been placed with foster families while they wait for their forever homes.