A Phippsburg woman accused of throwing a pair of kittens into a pond is back in jail.
Police say she violated her bail conditions.
The woman who sold her the cats said she wants them back and has the legal right.
Tiffany Cadman said her Bengal kittens are an easy sell. “As soon as she saw the pictures she was right on into it,” Cadman said.
Cadman said she was shocked when she heard on the news last July the allegations against the woman who bought two cats from her, 51-year-old Justine Lovig of Phippsburg.
[Kittens rescued after woman allegedly tosses them into Maine pond]
“I can’t imagine the stress the kitties were under,” Cadman said.
Phippsburg police say Lovig was drunk when she repeatedly threw the pair of kittens into a pond last Fourth of July.
Lovig told police she submerged the kittens under water because it was hot and she wanted to cool them off, according to a police report.
“They weren’t even 9 weeks old. To be two pounds and submerged under water,” Cadman said.
Cadman wants the cats back
The kittens came with a contract, which allegedly states that if there is any abuse or neglect, or if the cats are not properly supported, the buyer will give up ownership rights.
“I want to see the cats back in my possession so that way I can start getting them a forever home,” Cadman said.
Lovig wants the cats, too, according to her attorney.
“She has always wanted to have the cats returned. If Ms. Cadman wants to make a breach of contract claim, that’s a civil matter,” attorney James Mason said.
“It may just be a written piece of paper, but it’s definitely going to save them from potentially going back to her [because] that’s what I do not want to see happen,” Cadman said.
The cats are in the care of Midcoast Humane and now in a foster home.
Veterinarian Mandie Wehr remembers the kittens when they came in.
“They were in better condition than some I have seen but they had obviously just gone through a trauma that was pretty evident,” Wehr said.
Wehr said the humane society has to keep the cats until the court dictates otherwise.
“They’re still in foster care. It’s been a long time that they’re still in that foster home,” Wehr said.
During Lovig’s trial last week, the judge declared a mistrial because of an inaccurate statement made by police.
But the judge is denying the request from Lovig’s attorney to dismiss the case.
It is unclear if the district attorney will try the case again.