Fibreglass Donkey Sparks Animal Cruelty Alert
A life size garden ornament of a donkey sparked an animal welfare investigation in Airdrie.
The SPPCA helpline received the call on Tuesday and staff are still unsure whether the report was made as a prank or by a well-meaning but short-sighted passer-by.
Senior Inspector Bill Little said, "The caller stated the donkey was kept in the back garden of a house in Airdrie and tied to a fence without any shelter.
"When I arrived, the owner asked me if I wanted a laugh and when she showed me the ornamental donkey it certainly gave me a chuckle.
"The donkey is made of fibreglass and goes by the name Joshua. He used to be kept at the side of the house and could be seen by people walking by so it's possible someone called us as a practical joke.
"However, it may be that someone was genuinely concerned as it is a rather lifelike model."
Joshua's owner, Reverend Georgie Baxendale, said, "This is the funniest thing I've ever heard in my life. I used to have two donkeys and bought Joshua as a reminder.
"He's very eye-catching and has appeared in many nativity plays over the years.
"I think this could have been a joke or maybe the person who reported it just doesn't know donkeys very well as real ones don't stand as still as Joshua!"