Overview
- Three adult cats and eight kittens were found on December 26 in a cardboard box next to a bin on Holtenklinker Straße in Bergedorf at roughly minus two degrees Celsius without food or water.
- The animals were first taken to a police station and then transferred to the Hamburger Tierschutzverein, which is now providing care and seeking information on their origin.
- Authorities and shelter staff reported signs of neglect, including dirty ears, suspected ear mites, and flea dirt, and police say such abandonment can be prosecuted under Germany’s animal‑protection law.
- The shelter asked for tips from the public at 040‑211106‑0, while social media users voiced strong condemnation of those responsible.
- In Berlin, the Tierheim logged 28 animals taken in during the festive week—ten more than last year—with some pets reunited with owners and others entering the five‑day holding period before rehoming.