Megan Eastaughffe was just going about her usual routine, feeding her horse at her home in Fulham, when a sound stopped her in her tracks.
It was a faint meow, almost drowned out by the rustling trees and distant traffic.
She brushed it off at first, thinking it might be a neighbor’s cat, but then she heard it again.This time, it was more desperate.
Curious and slightly concerned, Megan changed her angle, scanning the area.
That was when she saw something bobbing in the water of Adelaide’s River Torrens.
Her stomach dropped. A tiny creature was struggling to stay afloat, and as she stepped closer, she realized the horrifying truth.
A cat was in the river, and something was dragging it down.
Source: Dailymail
Megan’s heart pounded as she rushed to get a better look.
A heavy object was tied around the cat’s waist. Panic set in. Someone had done this deliberately.
She fumbled for her phone and immediately called her friend, Jessica Searle, who arrived within minutes.
Without hesitation, Jessica stepped into the waist-deep water and reached out for the terrified feline.
As soon as she got close, she gasped. A four-kilogram electric saw was attached to the cat’s small body.
The weight of it should have been enough to pull her under completely. It was a miracle she had survived this long.
Source: Dailymail
Jessica lifted the kitten from the water, her hands trembling as she carefully untied the cruel restraint.
Megan watched in shock, unable to comprehend the cruelty someone had inflicted on this innocent animal.
“It was just horrendous. I was half sobbing. It was so overwhelming,” Megan later recalled.
The kitten clung to her rescuers, desperate for warmth and comfort.
Despite everything she had been through, she purred softly in Jessica’s arms. It was as if she knew she was safe now.
They named her Splash.
Source: Dailymail
Her fur was damp and shivering, but she wasn’t injured. However, something else caught their attention.
Her coat, whiskers, and even her eyelashes appeared to have been recently clipped. The realization sent a chill through them.
Someone hadn’t just tried to drown this cat. They had deliberately done something to her beforehand.
Megan and Jessica wrapped Splash in a towel and rushed her to an emergency vet.
They needed to be sure she hadn’t inhaled too much water or suffered internal damage. The vet confirmed she was in stable condition, but there was no microchip or identification.There was no way to track down who had done this to her.
Jessica took to Facebook to share Splash’s story, hoping to find answers and justice for the innocent kitten.
“After what a human had done to her, she was still so loving and trusting, which broke my heart even more,” she wrote.
The post quickly gained traction, with people expressing shock, anger, and heartbreak over what had happened.
Splash was placed in the care of the RSPCA, where she would be safe and looked after while authorities investigated the case.
RSPCA South Australia inspector Verity Otto confirmed that an official animal cruelty investigation was underway.
If the person responsible was found, they could face up to four years in jail or a $50,000 fine.
For Megan and Jessica, the thought of someone intentionally harming such a helpless animal was devastating.
“If you don’t want an animal, why harm a beautiful, innocent creature that only has love to give when you have other options?” Megan asked, still grappling with the horror of it all.
Despite the cruelty she endured, Splash proved to be a fighter.
She had managed to keep her head above water, long enough for someone to hear her cries for help.
And thanks to the kindness of two strangers, she was now safe.
As the investigation continued, Megan and Jessica hoped that Splash would find a forever home, one where she would be loved and cherished.
Until then, she remained in the care of rescuers who had vowed to never let her suffer again.
The story of Splash was heartbreaking, but it was also a testament to resilience, kindness, and hope.
Against all odds, she survived. And now, she had a second chance at life.
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