An animal rescue centre had to put a baby hedgehog to sleep after it was “kicked around like a football” by yobs.
The defenceless hoglet was taken to Thorne Hedgehog Rescue in Pluckley, near Ashford, where it was found to have sustained multiple injuries from the blunt force trauma.
It came after a DPD driver found the animal being attacked by a group of children in Maidstone.
After intervening, he took it to a Vets for Pets branch, where it was collected by a volunteer and taken to the charity on Friday.
Immediately, the baby, believed to be between just six and eight weeks old, was moved to the intensive care unit and given fluids for shock as well as pain relief.
After further assessment under sedation by a vet, it was found the animal’s upper palate had been broken and his liver lacerated from the impact of the attack.
To relieve its suffering, the hoglet was put to sleep.
Lisa Steward, owner of Thorne Hedgehog Rescue, said the animal had been “kicked like a football”.
“Any hedgehog out in the day is sick or injured,” she said.
“He would be struggling in this heat with dehydration, limited access to water, and he’s very young as well, so they come out because they need help.
“Any kid seeing that, you would think they would tell their mum, who would organise for it to go to a vet or rescue, but that didn’t happen.
“He was deteriorating and losing weight. Nothing we seemed to do helped.”
Lisa says the incident is the fourth time in the past year a hoglet has been used as a football.
“The last thing we need is deliberate cruelty cases…”
She said: “You would think that anyone that saw an animal in pain would not want to worsen and inflict further pain and suffering.
“We’re getting 15 to 20 hedgehogs in a day at the moment, and the last thing we need is deliberate cruelty cases.
“Unfortunately, it’s something we’re seeing more and more commonly.”
Currently, the rescue centre has 100 hedgehogs in its care, of which over 60 are orphaned hoglets.
The service, which is based in Smarden Road, is entirely volunteer-run and has no paid staff.
To help support its medication, food, and cleaning supply costs, a JustGiving page has been set up.
To donate, click here.
Lisa says putting a shallow dish of water out each day can be a “lifesaver” for hedgehogs during the heatwave.
