Rescue 'blown away' by support after hedgehog death

A wildlife rescue which tried to save a hedgehog that had been painted blue like the Leeds United colours has been "absolutely bowled over" at the support received since the animal's death.

Honey the hedgehog was found in a Leeds garden covered in thick, oily blue and yellow paint before she was taken to a rescue centre in Otley to be looked after.

But due to the toxins in the paint which she had ingested, Honey "deteriorated very quickly" and died 10 days later, said Diane Cook, of Prickly Pigs Hedgehog Rescue.

West Yorkshire Police said four males aged 44, 21, 17 and 15 were arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and have since been released on bail.

"It was devastating - but it's created so much traction people will have to realise it's not acceptable behaviour and you are going to get caught and punished in some way or another," Cook said.

When Honey was taken to the rescue centre, Cook and volunteers had to painstakingly scrape the paint off each spike but she struggled to breathe and could not curl into into a defensive ball.

Cook said: "It hit us hard, the fact that she died by the direct result of the things that people had done to her - that was what made it so heartbreaking.

"Wildlife don't have their own voice, not like cats and dogs that have owners to stand up for them."

Since Honey died, a fundraising page has been set up to help Prickly Pigs Hedgehog Rescue and has reached about £5,500 in donations so far.

Cook, who launched her rescue centre during lockdown, said the money will be used to invest in a bigger, more suitable facility, which is currently located in her garage.

She also said she and her husband, who helps at the centre, have been inundated with hedgehog food parcels, boxes of equipment and messages from well-wishers who had heard of Honey's plight.

"The money will go also towards the day-to-day running costs of the rescue - so the food we're feeding the hedgehogs, as well as covering the medication and the treatment of the hedgehogs," she added.

Cook, who said she looks after up to 500 hedgehogs a year, said: "The outpouring of support has just been absolutely amazing and restored some of our faith in humanity."

West Yorkshire Police said in a statement at the time Honey was discovered in Yeadon: "Unfortunately someone in the LS19 area of Leeds has sprayed a hedgehog blue.

"This has caused unnecessary suffering to the animal and it is being treated by rescue, and if anyone has any information about the incident please call 101."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.