A kitten found near PNC Park was not sprayed with pesticides by ballpark employees, despite rumors circulating on social media, a Pittsburgh Pirates spokesperson said Friday night.
In fact, Pirates employees came to its aid, according to club spokesperson Brian Warecki.
Warecki said in a statement that the cat was found by underground utility workers near the park on Wednesday before it ran into PNC Park from across the street.
“At that time, Pirates employees were able to coerce the kitten out of hiding with food. Once they had it under their care, they were able to tend to it and find a contact who fosters kittens,” Warecki said. “At no point in time did any ballpark employee interact with the kitten in any other way.”
A public Facebook post by a Pittsburgh resident alleged that the cat was sprayed with pesticides by “maintenance people,” but clarified that she “did not want to specify PNC at this time.” The post also said the cat was taken to Penn Animal Hospital.
Warecki said the story circulating on Facebook was “100% false, based on bad second-hand information and fueled by social media speculation.”
“In fact, the opposite is true as it was two Pirates employees who helped to rescue this poor stray kitten, offer initial care and find it a foster home,” he said. “The Pirates have decades of history working with a number of animal friendly groups to promote the health and well-being of all animals. To insinuate anything else is patently false and unfounded.”
As of Friday night, Warecki said PNC Park had not yet heard back from the foster owner who took the cat to the vet.
The woman who posted about the alleged incident and Penn Animal Hospital did not immediately respond for comment.
