BOSTON -- A U.S. postal carrier got a surprise over the weekend when he went to collect mail from a postal box in Hyde Park and found a tiny kitten trapped inside.

The baby feline, dubbed "Postina" after she was discovered, spent most of Saturday inside the box after being pushed through the small mail opening at the top sometime the day before, according to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The 2-pound, 8-week-old kitten dropped several feet onto the envelopes and packages below. With the help of another Good Samaritan, the postal carrier quickly brought her to the MSPCA Animal Care and Adoption Center in Jamaica Plain.

Postina has now had several days of nourishment and rest as well as a round of vaccinations and the MSPCA said she is ready for adoption.

Pet surrender is becoming more prevalent in Massachusetts as the recession continues to leave pet owners struggling financially, the MSPCA said.

The organization, which tracks reasons for animal surrender to its adoption centers, said that more than 28,000 animals were left in 2008 and it has noted a 48 percent increase this year, with pet owners citing financial reasons for surrendering their pets.

The MSPCA offers assistance programs so owners can keep their pets, including low cost spay and neuter surgeries starting at $50 per pet, including vaccinations, microchip ID and veterinary exam.

The MSPCA is also reminding the public that animal abandonment is a felony crime punishable by up to a $2,500 fine and five years in prison.

Anyone with information regarding Postina’s abandonment is urged to contact the MSPCA’s Law Enforcement department at 617-522-6008 or (800) 628-5808.

Surrendering an animal to the MSPCA is free and can be done 24 hours a day/ seven days a week through the MSPCA-Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center or the Angell Animal Medical Center.

To donate to the MSPCA-Angell’s General Fund and help animals such as Postina please visit www.mspca.org.