Baby hedgehog kicked to death
Dundee, SC (UK)Incident Date: Friday, Aug 10, 2007
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
A baby hedgehog has died after it was kicked about like a football by a gang of boys. The animal had to be put down by a vet after it was attacked in Dundee at about 1600 BST on August 9, 2007. It was squealing with pain and had a big wound on its head, a bleeding nose and a broken jaw.
The latest incident in Dundee's Hepburn Street was witnessed by a woman and a group of children, who reported it to the nearby Tay Veterinary Surgery. I hate to think what kind of pain it was feeling when they were kicking it about. The hedgehog was collected by animal nursing assistant Alison Wood.
She told the BBC Scotland news website: "It was badly injured and in a lot of pain. "It had a big wound on the side of its head, and its nose was bleeding and its jaw was out of place. "Even when I picked it up, it was squealing, so I hate to think what kind of pain it was feeling when they were kicking it about.
"It must have been in agony". Ms Wood said the hedgehog may have been injured before it was targeted by the gang of boys. She added: "I'd hate to think they inflicted those injuries. It wasn't doing them any harm and that treatment was really unnecessary."
The attack has been condemned by the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA). Spokesman Doreen Graham told the BBC Scotland news website: "Too frequently, the SSPCA is seeing attacks on animals by groups of teenage boys. "Their mindless attack on a hedgehog was brutal, and resulted in the animal suffering and consequently being put to sleep. I appeal to anyone who knows who was responsible for this despicable attack on a defenceless animal to contact Tayside Police. "Violent behaviour of this type is something that the public needs to be concerned about because research has shown it can be a precursor of worse to come."
The wildlife and environment officer at Tayside Police asked for help from the public to catch the gang of boys. Alan Stewart said: "This is the third incident I am aware of within the last six weeks of hedgehogs being kicked around like footballs. "I appeal to anyone who knows who was responsible for this despicable attack on a defenceless animal to contact Tayside Police on 01382 223200 or myself directly on 07808 899113." If you have information on this case, please contact:
Tayside Police
01382 223200
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