Two Kittens Thrown into Thames Find Homes in Chiswick
Drunk man pushed unwanted cats off Twickenham Bridge
Lucky the kitten is safe after the ordeal. Picture: BBC
December 20, 2025
Two kittens now settling into new homes in Chiswick were among three animals rescued after being thrown into the River Thames near Twickenham Bridge, in an incident first reported by the BBC.
The kittens were saved by passers‑by on 30 November after a man was seen throwing a box containing them from the bridge. Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard that the man responsible, Andrew Shephard, 58, “was very drunk and had a problem with alcohol” at the time, but did not intend to kill them. He has admitted three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and will be sentenced in February. He represented in court and explained that his daughter was unable to look after them anymore.
Witnesses described hearing Shephard say, "let them die, I want them to die". He later admitted what he did was ‘horrible’ and said he was ‘absolutely paralytic’ at the time.
According to the BBC, one kitten was caught before it hit the water, while the other two were swept along the river until they struck a mudbank. Members of the public climbed down to reach them, emerging “covered in mud” and carrying “frozen, almost dead kittens”.
All three animals spent three weeks recovering at a veterinary practice before being adopted by their rescuers. Two of the kittens — Lucky and Happy — are now living in Chiswick, where their new owners say they are thriving after their ordeal. The third has been rehomed in Suffolk.
Shephard is due to be sentenced on 17 February after the completion of a pre-sentence report.
Advice on caring for an animal and coping with vet bills during the cost of living crisis can be found on the RSPCA website.
You can help protect animals from the cost of living crisis this winter by joining the RSPCA’s Winter Rescue.
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