Three cats were found inside a charity clothing bin at a recycling depot in Eastern Passage, N.S., over the weekend.

"People should be ashamed of themselves,” said Keir Johnstone. “They need to be charged and should not own any pets whatsoever."

Workers routinely clear out the bin, so they figure the kittens were put in there some time Friday night or early Saturday morning.

"They could have reached out for help rather than abandoning the kittens," said Sonya Higgens, owner of Sonya’s Cat and Animal Rescue Society. "They were flee-ridden and emaciated, and needed medical attention immediately.”

The proceeds of some of the bottles dropped off at the nearby recycling business are passed along to Higgens’ program to get cats neutered.

"We find it all the time in our city. Cases of animal abandonment and cats are abundant in HRM. I presume around 300,000 stray or feral cats," said Higgens.

There are several charges that can be laid for abandoning animals under the Animal Protection Act.

Higgens says there is an initial $410 fine, along with a subsequent fine of $697.50 for failing to provide the animal with adequate food, water or shelter.

Higgens says in order for the laws to work, someone has to come forward who knows the neighbour or friend who had a litter of kittens before, and now suddenly doesn’t.

"If you have any information regarding this, I think it’s important to come forward because we can't act on the law without people being witnesses," said Higgens.

Higgens says the kittens were found a critical time to get them the help they need to survive.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Marie Adsett.