Locals are being urged to check their nearby bottle and recycling banks before they dispose of their empties – because there could be more inside them than reusables.
This week’s Morecambe Visitor reports that pet rabbits, kittens and a guinea pig have all been dumped in local bottle banks, which then ate their own fur and skin in a desperate bid to survive.
Morecambe animal campaigner Don Holroyd rescued the abandoned animals, found in bins in Heysham Village, Westgate, Scotforth, Over Kellet and Garstang. He believes these despicable crimes were committed by cash-strapped pet owners suffering the effects of the recession.
People recycling their bottles heard the animals crying for help and contacted Don, who managed to get them out with the help of a litter picking implement.
Sadly, all but one kitten found has died as a result of this wanton cruelty.
Animal Care and the RSPCA say they are shocked by the crimes and cruelty, and the RSPCA is investigating. Lancaster City Council says the situation is “very worrying”.
The callous dumping of unwanted pets is not, it seems, confined to our area. Two puppies were dumped in a bottle bank in Carlisle in 2006, while in January, five cross-bred doberman puppies were found dumped in a bottle bank at a Shrewsbury retail park.
Last June, the Irish Herald reported how kittens dumped in a bottle bank in Ballyowen, Dublin had died.
“What kind of society do we live in that these little creatures were dumped deliberately in a place where they could not be rescued?” Ouria Augier, media officer for the Dublin Society for the protection of Cruelty to Animals commented at the time. “Who would do this, what mentality can so readily disregard life?
“We know that animal cruelty is an indicator crime for other forms of cruelty and abuse. Kittens today, a child tomorrow?”
In 2007, a bag of kittens was thrown into one of the glass bottle banks in Parteen, Ireland. There were calls for CCTV cameras to monitor the facility but no such measure was implemented. The bins have since been removed.
The RSPCA are appealing for anyone with information about the dumping of animals locally to call their cruelty line on 08705 555999.
• Read the full story in the print edition of the Morecambe Visitor – Support Your Local Paper!
• Animal Care Web Site
• Pictured are the cat, Ant – one of many cats Animal Care would love to re-home, along with Sue the rabbit. Guinea Pig photo courtesy of Dawn Turner