This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The two kittens who survived being thrown from a moving truck in Davis County have died.
The kittens, named Pierre and Nikola, succumbed to feline panleukopenia virus, commonly known as distemper, according to foster organization CAWS director Janita Coombs. Pierre, the orange kitten, died Nov. 5 and Nikola, the black kitten, died a day later. Both cats were in the care of a CAWS foster home when they began showing symptoms and were taken to a veterinarian.
Coombs said the kittens contracted the illness before they were taken into foster care, though the stress of being thrown onto the freeway could have exacerbated their condition. She also said the kittens were in poor health when they came to authorities and likely had not been properly cared for.
"They most likely never received any type of vaccination," Coombs said. "Even though they were cute and fluffy, they were very thin."
The kittens were discovered on the side of Interstate 15 near Kaysville Oct. 31. A woman driving on the freeway saw a total five cats thrown from a window. She circled back around and found the two kittens, but a mother cat and three other kittens died.
The woman took the surviving kittens to the Davis County animal shelter, and they were later transferred to CAWS foster home to await adoption.
Local and national humane societies have offered a total of $7,500 for information leading to a conviction in the case.
Twitter: @jimmycdii