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Thugs kick hedgehog to edge of death

8:30pm Monday 1st September 2008

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A gang of youths kicked a hedgehog around like a football and then threw it in a bin.

The yobs booted the creature around an alleyway before dumping its bloodied body nearby.

A resident called the RSPCA after spotting the cruel act. Animal rescuers collected the hedgehog and took it to a wildlife rescue centre.

The hedgehog, nicknamed Harry by vets, survived the ordeal and was last night being treated for internal bruising.

RSPCA officers described the incident as horrendous. A spokeswoman said: “To kick a hedgehog around and then leave it injured in a bin is extreme cruelty and we would not hesitate to prosecute.

“We would like to hear from anyone who was in the area on Sunday and may have seen the youths and can tell us who they are.”

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) worker Tony Neads took the creature to be treated after it was attacked at 5.45pm on Sunday in the alley next to Tollgate Gardens in Eastbourne.

WRAS founder Trevor Weeks said: “It is very worrying that youngsters can inflict so much suffering and violence to another living creature without thinking about the cruelty and pain it causes.

“This behaviour is not acceptable in today’s society and I hope the friends of these people will name and shame those responsible. This is a very cowardly act.”

The hedgehog is being treated at Horsebridge Veterinary Centre in Lower Horsebridge, near Hailsham, where a vet revealed its injuries were a result of prolonged kicking to the body.

Tim McKenzie, the WRAS casualty care manager, said: “The hedgehog is in a critical condition.

“A carer will be taking on the hedgehog from the vets if it survives, and will start the slow process of rebuilding the hedgehog’s health.”

Sussex Police said: “We take any cases of animal cruelty seriously.”

In 2004 The Argus reported a similar case in Hollingbury, Brighton, when youths played football with a hedgehog before battering it to death with a sledgehammer.

Anyone with any information about animal cruelty should contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234999. All calls will be treated in confidence.

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Your Say YourThe Argus

Lil, Worthing says...
8:53pm Mon 1 Sep 08

Cruel vindictive people. What goes through some people's minds to think this is in any way OK?

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CGull1, Brighton says...
9:42pm Mon 1 Sep 08

These people are imbred, sub human scum. I think the term is Oxygen thief. There parents must be so proud!!

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Kickboxer, Worthing says...
10:12pm Mon 1 Sep 08

I would love to have 5 minuets with these scumbags, see how they like being kicked around like a rag doll.

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Mickburt, Seaford says...
10:16pm Mon 1 Sep 08

Which ones are the so-called 'dumb animals'? One can only hope that these mindless imbeciles get a taste of their own medicine and sooner rather than later.

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son of meg mortimer, Hove says...
10:27pm Mon 1 Sep 08

Poor old Harry, still every hedgeDOG has its day.

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Redbeard, Brighton says...
9:59am Tue 2 Sep 08

I still say we should just start culling certain people, if they can't put any positive influence into society or just drain the system then what good are they. Scum indeed, wasting our resources...pah!

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Maurice Marina, Holbrook says...
10:28am Tue 2 Sep 08

Redbeard

Thats a superb idea!


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Wilftop, Brighton says...
10:32am Tue 2 Sep 08

I really can't understand what kind of pleasure you would get kicking seven bells out of an animal, but then again I was brought up by honest hard working decent parents & taught right from wrong at an early age.

I'm with you Redbeard, I am fed up of all these ferrel "youth" & I'm only 29!

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xxsprigglesxx, Brighton says...
10:56am Tue 2 Sep 08

To say i feel sick is an understatement the cruelty these, WHAT, WHAT, do you call them, words fail me so i will leave it at that.
Inflicted on this tiny defenseless creature is incomprehensive. whoever you are hope you, ROT IN HELL and that will be to good for you.

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Wivvy Dave , Wivelsfield says...
11:04am Tue 2 Sep 08

Redbeard's approach seems pretty good to me - Now who will start off the list of applicable criteria to be used in identifying these certain people. I'll offer as a astarting point anyone with more than 2 ASBOs within 18 months. .

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Kickboxer, Worthing says...
12:02pm Tue 2 Sep 08

Wivvy Dave wrote:
Redbeard's approach seems pretty good to me - Now who will start off the list of applicable criteria to be used in identifying these certain people. I'll offer as a astarting point anyone with more than 2 ASBOs within 18 months. .
You can add to the list anyone who drinks stella or the equivalent thereof.

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sprouty, Eastbourne says...
1:19pm Tue 2 Sep 08

My wife will be the carer who will be looking after this poor mistreated animal, if it survives. May I make a personal plea that if anyone knows who inflicted this harm to one of Gods creatures informs the authorities without delay so they can get the help they desperately need.

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MzEden, Brighton says...
2:55pm Tue 2 Sep 08

As someone who was nearly run over getting a hedgehog out of the road so he didn't get flattened, my response to this story is unprintable! Just take a look at the poor liitle sod! Sprouty is right, these 'things' need help. To think there is a gang of them roaming around, with the pack mentality that they clearly have. If you live in Eastbourne, be scared! You have good reason.

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son of meg mortimer, Hove says...
3:29pm Tue 2 Sep 08

Bit like Good Old Gordon Brown.

Wont meet any of the fallen heroes from Afghanistan or Iraq when they come back in coffins, but quite happy to meet the Olympic team at Heathrow for a photo shoot.

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hymn, worthing says...
6:48pm Tue 2 Sep 08

agree with kickboxer one one point i.e give 'em 5 minutes with someone their own size (i'd volunteer) and i'd kick the daylights out of them, but not with the 2 cans of stella comment! i drink it, but i don't beat anyone up and that's for sure! everything in moderation..

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sprouty, Eastbourne says...
7:44pm Tue 2 Sep 08

I agree with Maurice Marina and his observations but someone/some people have to take care of the mistreated animals of the world....we all have our own charities/concerns that we relate too and support.
St Francis of Assisi said that not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them whenever they require it.
I hope we are doing our best, we can do no more.

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Hahna, Worthing says...
10:49am Wed 3 Sep 08

How bad can it get before we do something?

‘Conscience’, ‘compassion’ ... all being destroyed.

· entertainments industries relentlessly and remorselessly drip-feed a message to ‘enjoy’ being entertained by, de-sensitising, mindless gratuitous, violence in films, DVDs, Play Station games etc
· Even the BBC thinks it’s funny too. A "One Foot in the Grave" episode, with a football team in a park, kicking about a very realistic looking duck as a football - A Public Service Broadcaster believes the audience for Victor Meldrew laughs at that so-called “joke”?

But, mindless gratuitous violence is not normal let alone funny, and it’s not what most people want, not as entertainment nor eating away at society’s soul from the scummy ground upwards.

Let’s say, Enough! And stop buying and watching gratuitous violence, wherever it’s sold or promoted as entertainment. These are billion dollar businesses profiting at the expense of innocents’ misery. No need to use violence, just hit them where it hurts – in their shareholders’ wallets.

It may not be the answer, but it may be a place to start?

Thanks


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sprouty, Eastbourne says...
5:39pm Wed 3 Sep 08

An update to this story. Harry was indeed Harriet, yes, this hedgehog was a female heavy with babies which she aborted and then died herself...at the vets. Such a waste.

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hutchison, herstmonceux says...
7:05pm Wed 3 Sep 08

today ranks amongst one of the worst for feeling disgusted with ones own species. How callous and cowardly can you get?, like the thing had a chance, that is the most disgusting reality of it. Kids will only get our respect if the stop doing unspeakable stuff ike this. I would surely like to get hold of them to , while it was happening. Why? who;s to blame? why is there not a role model amongst them. Surely the young want to follow the role models of the old, the ones that are portrayed by our very own money hungry media.

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Ratatosk, Eastbourne says...
2:22am Thu 4 Sep 08

To think of what that poor animals must have gone through doesn't bear thinking about, it's horrendous. I've only fairly recently moved into Tollgate Gardens, which is near where this disgusting incident took place. Knowing it happened so near makes me feel totally sick.

If the culprits are caught, and let's hope they are, I'd like them to be forced to meet the people who took care of the hedgehog and be told the full details of the trauma they inflicted.

If these people, and the report says they were only youths, are so hardened and unfeeling they can do this to an animal, it's frightening to consider what the next thing they will do will be.

Sprouty, you should know many of us are grateful that you, your wife and others are involved with trying to help animals in need.


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sprouty, Eastbourne says...
7:11am Thu 4 Sep 08

Ratatosk, thanks for your post, its refreshing to know that all the effort, whether it be my wife's work or the work of WRAS, (The wildlife rescue ambulance service) with whom she is connected is appreciated.

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xxsprigglesxx, Brighton says...
2:57pm Thu 4 Sep 08

Sprouty many thank for your update i was wondering how, as it turns out she was doing, so so sad she didn't make it. You know sprouty one of my favorite hymns when i was a kid, was All things bright and beautifull all creaturs great and small, I bet these thugs have never heard it let alone know the meaning

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sprouty, Eastbourne says...
5:53pm Thu 4 Sep 08

Thanks spriggles, lovely to see so many people are concerned, you have brought tears to my/our eyes. We WILL go on and do whatever we can to help any creature that needs it in this crazy world. Many WILL survive and it is great to know so many people are behind us, may I ask you to do whatever YOU can in a positive way, whether by voluntering or by putting your hand in your pocket to support organisations that look after the wildlife we all take for granted. Bless you all.

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Ratatosk, Eastbourne says...
12:18am Fri 5 Sep 08

I wonder whether the eye witness to the incident was able to give the police a better description of the attackers than the one reported in 'The Argus' and the 'Eastbourne Gazette' ("a gang of youths").

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