Two hedgehogs burned alive in cruel attack during coronavirus lockdown, investigation launched
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), an animal welfare charity in the UK, are reportedly hunting down a ruthless killer who burned two hedgehogs alive during the ongoing coronavirus lockdown in the country.
The charity said that the animals were found lying beside each other in Daventry, Northamptonshire on April 8 by a member of the public. The hedgehogs were found on a path with obvious burn marks on their backs, a team member of the RSPCA confirmed, according to the Mirror.
Both the animals were taken to nearby veterinarians, however, neither survived the attack. Shortly after, the RSPCA released horrific details about how the hedgehogs were brutally killed. "The poor hedgehogs were still alive when I attended the scene - and we think they may have been left suffering since the night before," RSPCA and Animal Collections Officer Rebecca Frost said. "A neighbor reported smelling smoke at 11pm on April 7 but could not see where it was coming from so we suspect it was from the hedgehogs."
Frost continued that it appeared that the assailant had placed both the animals together and doused them in some form of accelerant before lighting the pair on fire. She added that it appeared that the animals were in pain for several hours before they were discovered.
"It seems both have been placed together and deliberately doused in some accelerant before they were deliberately set on fire in what can only be described as a horrific and callous act," she said. "The poor animals were left in an awful state and must have been in a lot of pain from the injuries for several hours until they were found."
"They had identical injuries with burns on their back and the vet also believes this was a deliberate attack," the Animal Collections Officer said. "I am very keen to find the person responsible and am appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area the night before or who knows who has done this to contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018."
The RSPCA also brought another disturbing incident to the fore by releasing shocking images of a cat burnt to death on a disposable BBQ in Doncaster. The animal welfare charity said that they are looking into reports that a cat was skewered and burnt in an alleyway in Wheatley after it was discovered on Thursday last week by a horrified dog walker.
The discovery was made by Diane Powney in an alleyway opposite shops in Beckett Road, where she was on her way back from walking her dogs, according to Examiner Live. The cat was reportedly discovered on top of a disposable BBQ with a rod inserted into it. An investigation has been launched by the RSPCA, who have appeared for more information on the incident from the public.
“The person who found the cat said she had a skewer through her body and was laying on the top of a disposable barbecue," RSPCA Inspector Tamsin Drysdale said. “She was so badly burned it isn’t possible to be sure what color her fur was."