The small crate just off the shoulder of U.S. 95 didn’t initially raise any alarms for Addy Jasmin as she and some pals drove past it. 

But then she wondered: “What if there is something in it?” 

The 16-year-old and friends Lola Baine and Emry Elam pulled over about 15 miles south of Coeur d'Alene on a warm Sunday afternoon so they could take a look. 

When they did, they were surprised. 

Looking back were four wide-eyed kittens, frightened and squished together against the back of the crate. 

They had been abandoned. Inside was a tiny bit of food and a small dish of water. 

Jasmin knew one thing: They could not leave them there. 

They made room in the backseat, loaded up the crate and continued their drive to Coeur d’Alene. 

The kittens were OK, with no visible injuries. 

“They were just really scared,” Jasmin said. 

Once home, she and her mom, Cory Jasmin, bought some cat food and supplies and tried to coax them out of the crate. 

They refused. 

“The were just too scared,” Addy Jasmin said. “They were trying to hide.” 

After calling Companions Animal Center with plans to turn them in, Cory Jasmin set out to find homes for the kittens. 

By May 21, all four were adopted.

She said it wasn't too difficult.

“They’re very cute," Cory Jasmin said, adding she has lots of friends.

Vicky Nelson, CAC development director, was pleased the girls stopped and helped the kittens, but disappointed someone left them on the side of the highway.

"Abandoning animals is not only cruel, it's illegal," she said. "Leaving helpless animals for someone to hopefully find is putting their lives at risk."

Nelson said she would rather that people with unwanted pets call CAC at 208-772-4019.

Addy Jasmin, who said cats are her favorite animal, was glad they didn’t just keep driving, but stopped to investigate the crate. Otherwise, the kittens’ fate and their happy ending in this case might have turned out differently. 

“It’s a lucky experience for the cats and for myself,” she said.