RCMP investigating after kitten was stolen from Moncton SPCA

MONCTON – Codiac RCMP are investigating after a kitten was stolen from the Moncton SPCA this week.

Moncton SPCA’s Karen Nelson said the eight-week-old kitten named Kovu was discovered missing on Wednesday night.

“All of a sudden when they went to do the evening feeding there were only five kittens. So then the panic ensued as to what happened to this kitten,” she said.

Nelson thought maybe Kovu jumped from the pen when someone wasn’t looking. But their security camera revealed Kovu had been “catnapped.”

“We did see a suspect come into the room and leave the room,” she said.

The SPCA immediately called the Codiac RCMP to report the cat burglary.

“A female suspect entered the SPCA kitten room and left a short while later,” said Sgt. Harry Brown.

The security video has not been made public because RCMP are still investigating.

But Nelson said the suspect was seen on the hidden camera with the kitten in her hands. It’s believed that person went to washroom, hid the kitten inside her coat and left the building.

Nelson said security measures are in place to prevent this kind of crime. But animal thefts do happen on occasion.

She said this case is particularly concerning because the stolen kitten was sick.

“It was starting with a little bit of sniffles which is not good,” she said.

Desperate to get Kovu back, the SPCA posted the theft on their Facebook site.

Annette Pearl is the Animal Welfare Director at the Moncton SPCA.

“Social media response was incredible, assuming it was pressure from that, she actually contacted us,” she said.

The woman, who showed remorse for her crime, is planning to return Kovu this weekend.

“Obviously taking a cat from a business without their permission is a theft, there is an ongoing investigation,” said Sgt. Brown.