The RSPCA is warning people of the hidden dangers in their gardens after a hedgehog became tangled in a football net and had to be put down.

The charity warned people of the things like football and badminton nets, which pose a risk to small animals.

It said one of its Animal Collection Officers (ACO) was called to rescue a hedgehog from a football net in a garden after the homeowners called to report the little creature in distress.

Cara Gibbon, the ACO, said: “The netting was tight around the hedgehog and as he tried to free himself it was getting tighter and he was suffocating and really struggling to breathe.

“This is such a stressful situation for an animal, particularly a wild animal, to find themselves in,” she said.

She said those using netting for sports should remove and store nets safely, and that any garden netting, such as pond netting, should be replaced with solid metal mesh.

Despite the animal surviving the ordeal, the decision was taken to put him to sleep.

“Sadly, a few days later an independent vet decided due to the serious injuries he had sustained, the kindest thing was to put him to sleep to end his suffering,” Ms Gibbon said.

“The householder, like many members of the public, had no idea the netting would pose a risk to wildlife and were obviously saddened by the incident but are keen for us to help raise awareness of the issue,” she added.

The RSPCA receives hundreds of calls every year to rescue wildlife who have become tangled in netting used in gardens or sports netting.

Source: Read Full Article