Maine Kitten Found Alive in Tied Bag at Transfer Station; Officials Seek Information
Maine — Kitten rescued
A roughly three-month-old kitten is safe after a transfer-station employee discovered him inside a tied plastic bag in Somerset County, Maine. The kitten was found over the weekend near Bingham, and local officials are asking anyone with information about how he got there to contact authorities.
WABI reported October 26 that the discovery happened at a transfer station in Concord Township, just outside Bingham. Peter Abraham, who manages the facility, heard a kitten meowing and noticed movement in a bag. He opened the bag and found the animal alive. His quick response brought the kitten to the attention of Bingham animal control officer Tina Tibbetts.
The kitten has since been nicknamed Dumpster. According to Tibbetts, he appears to be in good condition apart from fleas. She told WABI that she and her family might give him a permanent home, but that possibility was not a confirmed adoption at the time of the report.
The Town of Bingham publicly condemned the incident and urged anyone struggling to care for a pet to seek help through a shelter, animal control officer, town office or non-emergency dispatch service. Town officials said the kitten was doing well in the animal control officer’s care.
Investigators have not publicly identified who placed the kitten in the bag, and the reporting reviewed did not establish any arrest or criminal charge. The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office is requesting information from people who may know what happened.
Why This Matters for Animals
A sealed or tied bag can quickly place a small animal in danger. In this case, the employee’s attention to an unexpected sound was crucial: the kitten was discovered alive and received care before a more serious outcome occurred.
The incident also exposes the pressures facing animal welfare services in smaller communities. Tibbetts told WABI that she had helped relocate more than 70 animals in her first two weeks as Bingham’s animal control officer. She hopes to develop a small heated shelter and a food pantry for animals in the area.
Safe surrender and rehoming resources may be limited, but leaving an animal in a trash container is never an acceptable alternative. Asking local officials or a rescue for assistance can protect both animals and the people trying to find them care.
Sources: WABI, October 26, 2026; WMTW, October 26, 2026; Bangor Daily News, October 26, 2026.
