Couple arrested after kitten found in duct-taped sandwich container tests positive for meth
A Utah couple were arrested after their 6-week-old kitten was found trapped in a small poop-filled sandwich container with methamphetamine in her system.
Cops were called to a parking lot in a Salt Lake City suburb Monday to check on a man and woman slumped over in the front of their vehicle, KTVX-TV reported.
The officers reportedly heard a faint “meow” coming from the car, and found the helpless Siamese kitten in a duct-taped Tupperware-style container, with her head sticking out of a narrow triangular end.
The rest of her body was covered in feces and she weighed not much more than a pound, the station said.
The kitty was taken to a veterinarian in critical condition and was diagnosed with head trauma, singed fur on her face, bruising on her temple, and an eye injury.
“Once we got word that there were drugs in the car, we did a urinary test on her for various drugs, and she came up positive for methamphetamine,” Jessica Love, medical director at Angel Paws Animal Services, told the local ABC affiliate.
“We determined that although she was exposed, she wasn’t showing any sign of intoxication.”
The clinic named the kitten Athena and a veterinary technician spent the night with her, giving her fluids, medication, and oxygen.
“We couldn’t do a whole lot else because of her size and her youth,” Love reportedly said. “We were relying on her to pull through, supporting her as best as we could.”
“She has made a remarkable recovery in about a 24-hour period,” the vet continued. “She’s doing much better.”
Athena’s owners were arrested by Cottonwood Heights police following the “horrific abuse” and slapped with a litany of charges.
Justin Epperson, 45, is facing charges of torturing an animal and possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, court records show.
Emily Allred, 41, was charged with similar counts in addition to a slew of motor vehicle offenses.
The duo reportedly were holding both meth and fentanyl and had been camping out in their car – which is illegal in Cottonwood Heights.
They were also covered in cat hair upon their arrest, the local outlet said.
