DOVER, N.H. (AP) – Five kittens were rescued from an impounded car at a county jail after they were discovered by a grounds crew mowing the lawn.

“I’m sure they’re feeling well loved because everyone goes back to see them,” said Elizabeth Fourar-Laidi of the Cocheco Valley Humane Society. “They’re the car kitties.”

The crew saw the 5-week-old kittens in the car through a fence, but a padlock stopped them from getting in.

They called the humane society, and police Sgt. Bruce Pelkie helped out. They couldn’t get a key to open the gate, so Pelkie climbed the fence, injuring his hand on the way over.

“I think he was just anxious to help us get them out of the car,” said Candi Enman-Root of the humane society. “The midday sun was pretty warm, so he was just taking action to help us move the process along.”

The kittens will be ready for adoption in about three weeks.

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Information from: WMUR-TV, http://www.thewmurchannel.com/index.html

AP-ES-09-29-06 2124EDT