Vets confirm hedgehog kicked: Lewis
(TN22 - Monday, 17 May, 2010)

Vets have confirmed that a hedgehog found at Lewes yesterday morning has been kicked and seriously injured.

The hedgehog has suffered severe trauma to its mouth and nasal cavity.

The upper jaw has been fractured in three places and been pushed backwards.

"I am sickened and very upset" said Trevor Weeks,

"Over the years I have hardened emotionally but now and then you get cases which are upsetting and sickening, this is one of them.

"I find cruelty very hard to come to terms with.

"I don't get upset easily but this is sick and disgusting.

"Whoever has done this is a seriously shallow person and one who needs to be named and shamed."

WRAS is urging anyone who seeing hedgehogs or other animals being kicked or ill treated to report them to the police straight away.

Hedgehog are thought to be on the decline across the UK and these incidents do not help.

"What have these little helpless creatures done to deserve this cruelty?

"I will be contacted Sussex Police to log this incident with them like the incident recently at Uckfield last week as well as contacting the local schools and colleges to advise them of the situation and ask for their help in stamping out this abuse" said Trevor.

Henley House Vets in Uckfield today had to put the hedgehog to sleep as the damage to the upper jaw was too severe to repair.

Advise was taken from St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Buckinghamshire to ensure no other option was open to us. 

Less than a week after a kicked hedgehog was rescued in the public area of Uckfield Community College, another hedgehog has been found in Lewes which has possibly been kicked too.

At 8.15am today students from Priory School in Lewes phoned East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) to report their discovery.

Trevor Weeks rushed to the scene whilst the students kept the poorly hedgehog safe on a footpath next to the footpath bridge just east of Lewes Railway Station.

On arrival Trevor found a hedgehog with blood coming out of his nose and left eye and swelling to his head and nose, damage to one ear as well as other swelling and bruising.

"Although we can't be 100% sure this hedgehog has been kicked the injuries are unusual for a road casualty or from being attacked by a predator.

"The hedgehog has been found away from roads and on a footpath.

"This is the second hedgehog which has been kicked in less than a week." said Mr. Weeks.

East Sussex WRAS are delighted with the help and caring nature of the students from Priory School in Lewes.

"These girls should be congratulated for their concern and for stopping to help this defenceless little creature." said Trevor, who phoned Priory School to warn the school that the students would be late in as a result.

"This really restores your faith in students and young people today, when you hear so many stories about yobs and vandals, here you have several youngsters who are genuinely caring people and a great example to others of compassion" said Trevor.

"The hedgehog is now under treatment and observations.

"We hope that she has not suffered much internal damage.

"We will closely monitor her and hope that she will pull through.

"Fingers crossed.

"She clearly can't smell properly because of the blood in her nose and the swelling, it not nice to see a hedgehog like this and you really feel for them, and of course being covered in spines they are not easy to assess and treat" said WRAS carer Kathy Martyn from Uckfield.

WRAS is urging anyone who sees someone kicking or being cruel to a hedgehog to dial 999 and report it to the police and say that the offenders are still on site.

Uckfield Community College
Downsview Crescent
Uckfield
Kent
TN22