N.H. couple adopt kitten abandoned in mailbox, christen calico cat P.D.
An 8-week-old kitten discovered abandoned in a mailbox in Hyde Park found a new home yesterday and received a new name: P.D., for “Postage Due.’’
The 2-pound calico cat was adopted by a New Hampshire couple.
The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals chose the couple after receiving a flood of queries after the kitten, which postal officials nicknamed Postina, was discovered shaking and malnourished by a postal worker on June 13.
“We’ve received calls from as far away as Holland and Italy,’’ said Brian Adams, a spokesman for the MSPCA. “When the news first broke, we were receiving about 10 calls an hour and a ton of e-mails from people looking to adopt her.’’
Despite the national and international interest in adopting the kitten, the MSPCA decided to give priority to local residents, Adams said. “Obviously, we weren’t going to be sending her anywhere.’’
The kitten was adopted by George Knapp, a US postal worker, and Dani-Jean Stuart, a freelance news director for NECN, who live in Weare, N.H. Adams said the couple have a long history of adopting animals. They adopted a dog from the MSPCA 11 years ago.
“My husband’s cat died suddenly over a year ago, and it’s been only recently that he’s indicated that he might be ready to adopt another cat,’’ Stuart said. “Last Wednesday night, I was filming a segment for NECN, and she was our last story. I called my husband, and I said, ‘Honey, I’ve found your kitten.’ ’’
Stuart contacted the MSPCA and expressed interest in adopting the kitten. “She’s a little spitfire,’’ she said by phone. “She just stood up and boxed my dog in the nose.’’
The MSPCA has been seeing a rise in abandoned animals, Adams said, and people are increasingly citing financial hardship as the chief reason. 