Port Alberni SPCA rescues 5 kittens burned in brush fire

Five kittens are receiving care after a brush fire broke out behind a BC SPCA animal shelter in Port Alberni last week.

The society says firefighters were doing sweeps of the scene Thursday and found the kittens, each with varying degrees of burns.

It says because the fire happened so close to the animal centre, firefighters were able to rush them to an emergency veterinary hospital and get them treatment right away.

The society says one kitten got out with only a small amount of singed fur, the others have burns on their paws, tails, ears and noses.

Meanwhile, one of them has more severe burns, to his face, abdomen, mouth and rectum.

“We have the kittens recovering at the home of one of our staff members so they can receive the specialized care they need to recover,” said the manager of the BC SPCA’s Alberni-Clayoquot animal centre, Sam Sattar.

“They are all set up with special litter that won’t stick to their paws or cause them discomfort when they step on it.”

Sattar added that three of the kittens are walking “very gingerly” and the kitten with the most severe burns does not want to walk at all.

The animals are currently on antibiotics and pain medication.

“The four kittens will require eye drops three times a day and will also need their burns treated with ointment three times a day,” said Sattar. “They are getting pain medication a minimum of twice a day.”

The society says the kitten who is least injured will be up for adoption soon, the others will be available in mid-July.