Hedgehog close to death after being 'used as football' by teens
Witnesses are being searched for after an attack which left a hedgehog close to death.
The RSPCA has made the appeal following the incident in Rugeley on Friday, which saw a group of youths deliberately kick and throw around the female hedgehog.
The attack at the junction of Fortescue Lane and Bush Drive happened around 9pm and was filmed on mobile phones by the people involved.
They are said to have been two boys and a girl aged between 13 and 15.
The youths were spotted by a local resident kicking the hedgehog along the ground and throwing it between them like a ball, with the severely injured animal dying in the resident's arms a short time later.
RSPCA inspector Ann Bennett, who attended the scene and collected the hedgehog, said: "The witness had a sickening feeling as she knew hedgehogs were active in the area.
"She went outside and to her horror found this poor animal barely alive in a pool of blood.
"This is a shocking and senseless act of deliberate cruelty to a defenceless animal that lasted several minutes.
"These teenagers were seen kicking the hedgehog like a football and throwing her between them.
"What makes it even worse is the fact that they were seen laughing as they were carrying out the attack and recording it on their mobile phones.
"We really need witnesses to help us identify those responsible, especially a fourth teenage girl who was initially with the group but walked away at the start.
"We are also asking people who may have seen social media footage of the incident to come forward, as well as local residents or businesses who might have CCTV footage of four teenagers walking around the local area at the time."
Anyone with information can contact the RSPCA’s appeal line on 0300 123 8018.
