WEBVTT REPORTSTHEY COULD'VE DIED IF SHE HADN'TBEEN THERE.CLAIRE: IN JUST TWO DAYS, THEKITTENS, NO MORE THAN THREEWEEKS OLD, HAVE IMPROVED.BUT WHAT A ROUGH TIME, DUMPED ONTHE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN THISCARDBOARD BOX, THE TOP SHU>> THEY WERE STARVING.THEY WERE COVERED WITH FECES.THEIR EYES WERE SHUT WITHINFECTION.CLAIRE: STAFF AT THE SOUTHEASTVOLUSIA HUMANE SOCIETYSTABILIZED THE TINY ANIMALS ANDFOSTER WENDY BENTLEY AGREED TOTEMPORARILY KEEP THE BABIES ATHER HOME, BOTTLE FEEDING THEM.SHE'S SHOCKED THAT ANYONE WOULDBE SO CRUEL.>> THERE'S NO REASON FOR IT.BRING THE KITTENS TO THESHELTER.WHY PUT SOMETHING ON THE SIDE OFTHE ROAD WHEN YOU CAN BRING ITTO SAFETY. >> IT'S SICKENING ANDHEARTBREAKING.AS SOON AS I OPENED THE BOX, YOUHOPE THAT EVERYONE IS STILALIVE AND BREATHING.CLAIRE: THEY WERE BARELY.THE BOX, WITH NO AIR HOLES, WASFILTHY, FULL OF FUTHE WORD LITTER BOX TAKES ON NEWMEANING HERE.ANIMAL ADVOCATES SAY THE KITTENSDIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME.>> MAYBE THEY HAD 24 HOURS.I'M NOT EVEN SURE.IT WAS THE NIGHT TEMPERATURESDROPPED SO MUCH, I'M NOT SURETHEY WOULD HAVE MADE IT THROUGHTHE NIGHT.CLAIRE: HARD TO FATHOM BECAUSEHELP WAS SO CLOSE. >> AT ANY POINT IN TIME, SOMEONECAN REACH OUT TO ONE OF THELOCAL SHELTERS OR RESCUES.CLAIRE: CLAIRE METZ, WESH 2, THENEWS HOUR AT 10:00STEWART: IT WILL BE JUST A FEWMORE WEEKS UNTIL THOSE KITTENS