The big news coming out of Ocean Beach today is that 9 hedgehogs were rescued from an Ocean Beach trash can on the 4600 block of Voltaire Street.
County Animal Services were called out – by someone who thought they might be possums – and the CAS officer made the discovery about 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, June 1. Nine of the 15 hedgehogs survived. They are now in the care of County Animal officials.
Upon arriving at the trash can, the responding officer found several of the mammals loose inside the trash can, then noticed a sealed plastic garbage bag that was moving. When the officer tore open the bag, more of the animals were inside, but 5 were dead.
A sixth had to be euthanized because it was in poor health and was suffering. But the survivors are in good condition.
Said County Animal Services Director Dan DeSousa in a press release:
“Hedgehogs are very shy, timid creatures and for someone to tie them up in trash bags and throw them away is unconscionable.
“Someone needs to come forward with information so we can hold whoever did this cruel act accountable.”
Because it is illegal to possess hedgehogs in California, the animals will not be available for adoption, but CAS said it will make efforts to place them with people who already have permits to possess hedgehogs, or transfer them out of the state.
Once an investigation by CAS is completed, criminal charges will be determined. These could include animal abandonment and felony animal cruelty.
County Animal Services is asking anyone with information to call them at (619) 767-2740.
Sources:
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
What the hell is wrong with people…this is ridiculous.
Hedgehogs are not native to the Americas. Someone had to have brought them here or bred them here. Why won’t people recognize that wild animals are not pets and belong in the wild.
hedgehogs are European. Western hemisphere has porcupines.
interesting that animal services used the european term.
Hedgehogs are not porcupines. As per an article in the NY Times: “The hedgehog is a member of the family Erinaceidae; the subfamily is Erinaceinae; one common species is Erinaceus … Porcupines belong to more than 20 species of rodents in two families, Hystricidae (Old World) and Erethizontidae (New World). They are more closely related to guinea pigs and chinchillas than to hedgehogs.”
Local station Fox5 reports: “A $3,000 reward is now being offered for information on an animal cruelty case involving 15 hedgehogs that were dumped in an Ocean Beach trash can Thursday.”
Yes, an unkind act but followed by a kind one. Like Mr. Rogers who repeated what his mom had told hem: when ever something tragic happens – look – at/for/toward – the helpers, there will always be helpers – AND many more of them than the NON_helpers:))