A hedgehog found covered in yellow and blue paint, believed to be in solidarity with Leeds United Football Club, has died, an animal shelter announced. The adult female hedgehog was discovered on July 13 in Yeadon, Leeds, unable to curl into a ball due to the paint, which also caused breathing difficulties from its fumes.
Prickly Pigs Hedgehog Rescue in Otley, Leeds, took in the animal. Despite efforts to clean each spine and administer pain relief, the hedgehog, nicknamed Honey, succumbed to her injuries. Diane Cook, owner of the shelter, described the act as "appalling" and expressed her devastation at the hedgehog's death.
"To say that I'm devastated is an understatement and I just cannot believe, or understand, what some people are capable of doing to any living thing," Cook stated.
West Yorkshire Police's Wildlife and Rural Crime team investigated the incident. On the weekend, four men aged 44, 21, 17, and 15 were arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal under Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act of 2006. All four have since been bailed pending further inquiries.
The paint used was described as thick and tough, resembling emulsion paint or road marking paint. Rescuers noted that only the hedgehog's face, stomach, and legs were untouched, suggesting the animal was deliberately targeted. Cook highlighted the vulnerability of hedgehogs, which are listed as 'vulnerable' on Britain's red list of mammals, with significant population declines reported in both urban and rural areas.
Cook questioned the future of her rescue center following the tragedy, stating, "It's times like this when I wonder what is the point of running the rescue. It's a 24/7 job 365 days a year."
