Rescue founder's shock at animal cruelty cases

ANIMAL rescue workers in East Huntspill say they are shocked by the stupidity of some local residents. Secret World Wildlife Rescue has received an 'alarming number' of animal cruelty cases, including a duck which was stoned by youths in Burnham. Founder Pauline Kidner said: "I cannot believe the sheer stupidity of people who have little or no feelings for animals. To gain some kind of fun from hurting animals in this way is beyond belief. I urge anyone who witnesses these malicious attacks to take descriptions of the people involved and report it to the police."The wildlife rescuers have also had to treat a herring gull that was shot in Highbridge and a hedgehog which was used as a football and then had a concrete slab thrown on it in Bridgwater. All the animals were too badly injured to be saved. On Saturday (April 28), Pauline found a horse that had been tied up and left in the West Huntspill area. The horse had eaten all the grass it could reach and did not have any water. The lead rope was caught round the horse's back leg which had tightened the head collar so that it had broken the skin on the bridge of its nose.Pauline added: "It is very upsetting to know that these kinds of wounds have been inflicted intentionally and very often we have been unable to save the animals. We would like to thank the vets at Quantock Veterinary Centre who work so hard to save the wildlife and give them a second chance.