Edmond police say they have identified a person in connection with four kittens left in a trash can at a Lowe’s parking lot on October 13. Detectives are continuing to investigate.
According to the KOKH report, the Edmond Police Department said a white Ford truck towing a trailer entered the Lowe’s parking lot. Police have since identified the person who left the kittens behind. The department had asked anyone who recognized the truck or had information about the driver to call Edmond Animal Services at (405) 216-7615.
What the Law Says About Dumping Pets in Public
Abandoning an animal in a public or private place in Oklahoma is not a gray area under state law. Oklahoma Statutes Title 21 Section 1691 makes it a misdemeanor to deposit any live dog, cat, or other domestic animal along a roadway or in any public or private place with the intent to abandon it, according to the relevant statute hosted on Westlaw.
The exposure can grow far more serious depending on what happens to the animals afterward. If an abandoned animal suffers severe physical harm, neglect, or death, prosecutors can file felony animal cruelty charges under Oklahoma Statutes Title 21 Section 1685, which carries up to five years in state prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or up to one year in county jail, per the Wirth Law Office. If any of the four kittens found in the Lowe’s trash can required veterinary attention, that exam could also trigger another layer of accountability: state law under Title 21 Section 1680.3 requires veterinarians who suspect cruelty or neglect to report it to law enforcement within 24 hours, a mandatory-reporting rule outlined by the Stillwater Attorney blog that also grants vets immunity from civil liability for good-faith reports.
Where Edmond Pet Owners Can Legally Surrender Animals
A separate case in Lawton involved nine cats found alive in sealed plastic totes outside an animal shelter. In its June 2, 2025, report, KSWO said the cats had no food, water or adequate ventilation. Unlike the four kittens found in a trash can at an Edmond Lowe’s, the Lawton cats were discovered in totes outside a shelter…