Loo-flush hedgehog recovers at sanctuary (From Keighley News)

Loo-flush hedgehog recovers at sanctuary

2:20pm Thursday 2nd July 2009

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An animal charity campaigner has slammed today’s “cruel society” after she was told someone had attempted to flush a baby hedgehog down a toilet.

Cross Hills police officers delivered the tiny, frightened animal to the Crystal Hedgehog Sanctuary, in Keighley, last week after a passer-by found the hedgehog in a public urinal.

Charity owners said police told them the baby hedgehog had been flushed down the toilet. The female hedgehog, named Poppy, was estimated to be only 10-to-12 weeks old and had just left its mother.

Sanctuary owner Marianne Crowley, who is currently caring for more than 70 hedgehogs at her home in Prospect Mount, said she was enraged when she heard about the incident.

She said it was just the latest in an alarming rise in animal cruelty cases.

She said: “I am at breaking point with the number of animals I have coming here – I get over 20 calls a day from all over West Yorkshire. People kick hedgehogs for fun and one that came in even had its eyes poked out.

“It is not just hedgehogs — ask any animal charity in the district — they will tell you animal cruelty is getting worse.

“People think these things are allowed and they can get away with it – because nobody is doing anything to stop it. People are not that bothered any more about animals. They are more bothered about their mobile phones and designer clothes than they are about an animal’s life. A lot of people think they can just get an animal one day then get rid of it the next if they don’t want it.”

Ms Crowley said it was paramount to educate young people about how they should behave towards animals and she called on authorities to take action against those found mistreating them. She said: “People need to realise what is going on first of all and they should teach children in school that abusing animals is wrong and not allowed.

“Secondly, I think the people who do this disgusting kind of thing should be caught and punished. I also think Bradford Council should look into funding sanctuaries. You do not get any help at all and I feel like I am providing a public service, because it is the public who phone all day long.

“I am just one person, and just one hedgehog cost £280 to care for recently — I have got to fund that myself somehow.”

Craven and Upper Wharfedale RSPCA administrator Pam Laking said both she and Ms Crowley would like to thank the police for rescuing and delivering the hedgehog safely.

Ms Crowley is planning to hold open days at the sanctuary this Sunday, on Saturday, July 11, and Saturday, August 15, from 1-4pm.

She thanked Springfield Carpets, in Goulbourne Street, Keighley, for recently kiting out one of their shed floors free of charge. For more information about the sanctuary, visit keighleyhedgehogrescue.com.

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