Meriden, CT – A cat found abandoned in the cold over the weekend has died despite rescue efforts, Meriden Animal Control said in a statement.
A couple driving along Evansville Avenue near Meriden Markham Airport around 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, spotted something in the snow and stopped to check.
Inside a carrier, they found a cat, unresponsive and suffering from the freezing temperatures.
They brought the cat into their car and called animal control officers, who responded to the scene.
The responding officer “immediately realized the cat was suffering and in desperate need of care.” The animal, later named Lizzy, was rushed to a veterinarian.
Lizzy was not only suffering from hypothermia but showed signs of prolonged neglect, officials said.
“We know the word dumped gets used far too often in animal welfare posts, but this poor girl truly was DUMPED AND LEFT FOR DEAD!” Meriden Animal Control wrote in a Facebook post.
The cat was severely emaciated, dehydrated, and had matted fur. Her nails had grown into her paw pads, causing bleeding and infection, officials said. The back of the carrier had been left open, but Lizzy was too weak to move.
Despite the veterinarian’s efforts, Lizzy did not survive the night.
Meriden Animal Control is asking for the public’s help in identifying the person who abandoned her. Anyone with information is urged to call (203) 235-4179.
