YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A Youngstown teenager reaches out for help after finding a kitten he believes may have been abused.

18 year-old Antwuan Reese, although allergic to cats, says when he saw the kitten with maggots covering it's face, on the side of Parkview Avenue he couldn't leave the animal.

"I hope it makes it," said Reese. "It might lose an eye but, it's different with a life."

Unsure of what to do with the kitten the teen wrapped the animal in his shirt and started walking home. He saw 21 News at the American Legion Post on Glenwood Avenue and flagged down the reporter.

"I really wanted to get some help," said Reese. "Neighbors say it got a man, got out of the car and hit it with a stick. Just flung it up in the air." 

Seeing the situation, an intern from our Print Partner the Vindicator called police dispatchers who immediately called humane agents.

"It's pretty quick honestly for a holiday, that even the police were able to help this fast because I know everyone is under staffed," said Intern Nikos Frazier.

Within an hour, Animal Charity Humane Agents arrived and said the teen made the right call to seek help.

"He did the right thing, if you come across an injured or badly hurt cat you need to call the humane society, if it's during normal business hours. If it's after hours you can always give your local police department a call and they can give us a call and get us to come out and get the animal," said Mary Louk with Animal Charity.

Animal Charity say their staff is on call 24-7 and never want to see an animal suffer.

In this case, humane agents feared that help came too late.

"I'm not hopeful but, I just called our vet in and she is going to take a look and we will do what we can do. If it's possible we will save her, if it's not then we will do the right thing and end her suffering," said Louk.

Humane agents say they had to euthanize the cat because of the extent of it's condition.

Humane agents say they are not sure what caused the cat to suffer, but say it could have started with a simple infection that went untreated.