Austin Cops Rescue Eight Freezing Kittens Left in Cage

Police transported the kittens to the Austin Animal Center for care after finding them abandoned on a sidewalk with no shelter, food, or water.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 1:07pm

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Austin police officers responded to a 9-1-1 call and found eight kittens trapped in a small cage on a sidewalk on Great Northern Boulevard, with no food, water, or shelter. Sgt. Ben Mewis and the Baker 300s unit rescued the freezing kittens and transported them to the Austin Animal Center for medical care and shelter.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing issue of animal abandonment and neglect, which can be a criminal offense in Texas. It also underscores the strain that local animal shelters face, especially during extreme weather events, and the importance of the public reporting similar situations to authorities.

The details

According to the Austin Police Department, officers responded to a 9-1-1 call about the kittens and found them trapped in a cage on the sidewalk with no provisions. Sgt. Ben Mewis and the Baker 300s unit rescued the kittens and brought them to the Austin Animal Center for medical checks and shelter.

  • On Monday night, Austin police received a 9-1-1 call about the kittens.

The players

Sgt. Ben Mewis

An Austin police officer who responded to the 9-1-1 call and rescued the kittens.

Baker 300s unit

The Austin police team that transported the kittens to the animal shelter.

Austin Animal Center

The city's animal shelter that provided care and shelter for the rescued kittens.

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What’s next

The Austin Police Department's Animal Cruelty Unit is investigating the incident and asking the public to contact them at 512-974-6907 if they have any information about who left the kittens in the cage.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of the public reporting incidents of animal neglect or abandonment to the authorities, as well as the ongoing challenges faced by local animal shelters in caring for vulnerable pets, especially during extreme weather conditions.