Young Eastbourne thugs used terrified hedgehog as a football

UNITED KINGDOM -- Horrified locals called animal rescuers after witnessing youngsters kicking around a baby hedgehog like a football.Rescuer were horrified to be called out to a hedgehog which had been rescued by local residents after being used as football by local youths in the children’s playground at Victoria Gardens on Monday evening (September 2).

Rescuer Tony Neads, from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS), picked up the injured hedgehog from Victoria Gardens.

How could anyone hurt something this cute?
(This is not the hedgehog from the story.)

“The poor little girl was very frightened and had a number of broken and bent prickles over her body as a result of being kicked, so I rushed the hedgehog up to our Casualty Centre for further assessment,” said Tony.

Trevor Weeks MBE, manager of WRAS’s Casualty Care Centre, said, “We have named her Victoria and she has been medicated and bedded down at our centre and is going to be x-rayed by one of our vets tomorrow (Wednesdsay) as a precaution.

“We think she has been very lucky and only suffered severe bruising.”

Victoria is thought to be about five-six weeks old and she weighs about 250g.

“At this age the youngsters bones are still quite rubbery so we are hoping that Victoria has had a lucky escape, the X-ray will tell us more,” added Trevor.

“WRAS is shocked and appalled by the incident and has informed Sussex Police and hopes that they will be investigating the incident further.”

Anyone who witnessed the event is asked to contact Sussex Police and quoting reference 827 of 3rd September 2013.

(Eastbourne Herald - Sept 3 2013)