12 baby ferrets found abandoned in cage in Cornwall with no food or water

They were found in a cat carrier under a bush

Author: Sarah YeomanPublished 3rd Aug 2021

The RSCPA is appealing for information after 12 baby ferrets were found abandoned in a cage in Cornwall.

The ferret kits were found dumped inside in a cat carrier without food or water, under a bush in a field in Hayle.

A member of the public spotted them in a cat carrier before ringing the animal welfare charity on Sunday 25th July.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Megan Higgins collected the ferrets, which are not microchipped, and is now appealing for information to find out what happened to them.

“These poor ferrets were found dumped in a cage-style cat carrier without food or water that had been thoughtlessly discarded in a field.

“It was a hot day and they had been left exposed to the elements without a thought for their welfare. Thankfully they were found and are now getting some much needed care and attention from the teams at RSPCA Little Valley Animal Shelter and RSPCA West Hatch Animal Centre.

“I am now appealing for information to see if anyone saw anything unusual in the area, or if anyone recognises the ferrets, to please call us on 0300 123 8018.”

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer, Megan Higgins

The RSPCA recently launched a new campaign to ‘Cancel Out Cruelty’ as figures showed there were 1,095 reports of deliberate cruelty to animals in Cornwall in the last five years.

The charity has released the figures- which you can view on an interactive Cruelty Map - as part of its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, to raise funds to keep its rescue teams out on the frontline saving animals in desperate need of help and to raise awareness about how we can all help stamp out cruelty for good.

The RSPCA gets around 84,000 calls to its cruelty line every month and around 1,500 of those are about intentional cruelty. The charity sees a rise in the Summer by around 400 calls, on average, per month, which equates to 47 calls every day or two every hour.

You can find out more about the campaign here.

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