Stolen sick kitten returned to Red Deer pet store

A two-month-old sick kitten is back in good hands six days after she was taken from the adoption centre at thePetlandstore in Red Deer.

A man approached a stranger in the parking lot and asked him to take the kitten into the pet store,Alberta Animal Servicesoperations director EricaCoombertold CBC Thursday.

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"I'm still in shock that she's actually been returned," she said. "The person that took Kennedy ... had a big enough heart to return her because they saw she needed medical attention. That's what I believe."

Kennedy was stolen April 7 from the pet shop. RCMP sent out a release on Wednesday with a picture of the cat and the suspect caught on video surveillance. The suspected thiefhas not been identified.

Police said the kitten suffered from a respiratory infection and required medical attention. Coombersaid Kennedy's condition could be life-threatening if the kitten wasn't treated.

The man who handed the cat to a stranger to return to the store hasn't been identified either, though Coomber said her staff are happy she was returned.

"All the Petland staff are just over-the-moon happy," she said. "They all felt sick about the situation. Everyone's pretty much jumping up for joy and just so happy that she's OK."

Coomber said Kennedy is at a veterinary clinic being checked out, and when she's better, she'll go back to Petland to be put up for adoption.