When Laura Young saw all the empty pet carriers strewn around the trailhead, she couldn’t believe her eyes.

It was a Friday afternoon at the end of September, and Young had been driving home to Dunnville along First Road East when she saw the carriers poking out of the bushes near the entrance to the Dofasco trail on the east Mountain.

She pulled over to investigate, becoming more “devastated” with each empty carrier she found. They were all filthy, Young recounted to the Spectator, with fecal matter and matted fur covering the blankets and toys left inside.

All of the doors were also open. “You instantly knew that there were defenceless animals out there trying to survive,” said Young.

Young estimates there were 15 empty pet carriers that day — most of which she believes held cats at

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