Suffolk County SPCA detectives charged a Ridge woman with confinement of companion animals in a vehicle in extreme temperatures. Kimberly McKinley of Ridge, 23, was charged with confining her 2 eight (8) week old kittens in her car, a violation.
On the morning of July 16, 2019, we received a call from MTA Police that kittens had been left in a vehicle at the Ronkonkoma Train Station. The temperature outside at the time was 81 degrees F at 9 am in the morning. The kittens were left unattended in the car from 2 am in the morning until reported to be in the car at 9 am. The kittens were removed from the vehicle and transported to Brookhaven Animal Shelter.
McKinley is scheduled to appear in First District Court in Central Islip on September 16, 2019.
The Suffolk County SPCA has been continuously reminding people that leaving an animal in a car can lead to a tragedy. Many animals left in vehicles unattended have died from complications of exposure. Animals have a hard time staying cool, leaving them extremely vulnerable to heatstroke and or death. Avoid this unnecessary tragedy.
Chief Gross said that animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Suffolk County. If you witness any incident of animal cruelty or neglect in Suffolk County, or have any information about any of these cases, please contact the Suffolk County SPCA at (631) 382-7722. All calls will be kept confidential.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.