News

18 December 2002

Appeal launched to save Uist hedgehogs

Advocates for Animals and the St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital have launched an appeal to raise money to save the hedgehogs on the Western Isles of Uists and Benbecula. The animal groups putting into motion plans to rescue these animals from the Islands and move them to specially selected locations on the mainland, after Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) yesterday ordered their slaughter. To do this, donations are needed from the public.

The cost of rescuing and relocating one hedgehog is estimated to be about £25, and the groups aim to rescue and move as many hedgehogs as possible. Advocates for Animals and St Tiggywinkles have established an emergency rescue fund which is urgently in need of vital donations. Donations should be set to ’Save our Hedgehogs’ c/o Advocates for Animals, FREEPOST, SCO6143, Edinburgh, EH2 0BR. (Cheques or postal orders should be made payable to ’Save Our Hedgehogs’)

Advocates for Animals Campaigns Director, Ross Minett, said: "Sadly SNH has ignored the advice of animal welfare organisations and hedgehog rescue experts and ordered these healthy hedgehogs to be slaughtered. £25 is a small price to pay to save a healthy hedgehog and we would be most grateful for any financial help. The welfare of the hedgehogs and of the other resident animals in these locations will at all times be of paramount importance. However, we firmly believe that we must do all we can to save the lives of these innocent animals."

Notes to Editors
For further information please contact: Advocates for Animals on 0131 225 6039 (Out of Hours: 07946 517585 or 07971 590337)

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