Jimmy, who lives and works in Boston Massachusetts, is a postman. Last Friday, he got the surprise of his life when he went to pick up the mail from a local mailbox. Along with the usual collection of letters and packages he expected to find, there was a small eight-week-old kitten. The owner, who clearly wanted to get rid of the kitten, thought this was a suitable way to do it by just stuffing it through the opening of a mailbox and letting it drop. Fortunately, the kitten was not hurt and Jimmy took it to the Animal Care Centre.

According to an official at the care centre, there is an enormous increase in pet abandonment. The reason cited for this is the credit crunch. People say they can't afford to keep them. If you are caught abandoning your pet in Massachusetts, you could be given a $2,500 fine and up to five years in prison.