These are the faces of four kittens that were abandoned in the Rahoon area of Galway City in the past week.

They are among hundreds of pets — cats and dogs — that have been dumped by their owners so far this year in Galway.

Local animal welfare volunteers have warned that there has been a worrying increase in the incidence of animals being abandoned.

The latest victims, four black kittens, three male and one female, aged 10-12 weeks, were recovered by a volunteer with Galway Cat Rescue.

They were left in a cardboard box, that was closed with duct-tape and left on the side of a road near the volunteer’s home.

The quartet are currently being cared for in Briarhill Veterinary Clinic and are midway through mandatory 14-day quarantine.

It is hoped that they will be fostered to loving homes in the coming weeks.

Olivia O’Reilly Director of Galway Cat Rescue said her voluntary organisation of about 15 volunteers had rescued some 528 cats and kittens in the 12 months to the end of June of this year.

She said all local voluntary organisations working with animals, including MADRA and GSPCA, had reported an increase in animal abandonment, and decrease in adoption, in the past year.

Ms O’Reilly said Galway Cat Rescue was not interested in a witch hunt of the person who had abandoned the kittens, but she said it was a criminal act.

“They were healthy, their coats were shiny, and they were in no way abused . . . so somebody had cared for them up to the point of abandonment, which is nearly sadder,” she said.

Fostering and adoptions are great, she said, but in the long-run Galway Cat Rescue was trying to reduce the number of stray animals being born and left unneutered and unspayed – and education was key.

A Government grant of €16,800 from Department of Agriculture Food and Marine was received by the organisation for 2025. But it does not cover its costs, and it must continue to fundraise.

Galway Cat Rescue volunteers will be in Petmania in Wellpark, Galway City tomorrow (Saturday) from 1pm-4pm to raise awareness and raise funding. Santa Claus will be arriving at 3pm.

Pictured: The four kittens, among several hundred pets abandoned in Galway this year.