APRIL 2011
Its getting busy again here at the Hosprickal, some sad cases and some silly ones, as usual.
The postmen are being asked to be aware that dropping the elastic bands on the floor from the bundles of letters that they deliver, are causing not only nasty injuries, but a long painful death to hedgehogs,and also other wildlife. So posties, DONT DO IT.
About 3 weeks ago, a lady rang me and asked if I could check her hedgehog over for her. She said that she had been feeding it for about 2 weeks, it was fine, but she just wanted to make sure. I asked her if the hog was coming out in the daytime and she said yes, but it was okay.
I told her that I didn't like the sound of the hedgehog coming out in daytime, there must be something wrong with it. "No, no, it is perfectly fine, its eating well and running about, there is nothing wrong with it at all".
I asked her to bring it along, and I would have a look at it, which she did that afternoon.
The perfectly fit hedgehog, had a back leg missing, was blind in both eyes and so badly affected with ringworm that it had no fur at all on its tummy or face, and a good half of its spikes were missing, the lady was obviously an expert! After constant care, this little wonder has the sight of his 2 eyes back, and his fur and spikes are growing again.
I had my first case this year of dog attack on a Hedgehog. The gentleman whose Staffordshire Bull Terrier had savaged the hog, was very upset as it had made quite a mess of the hedgehog, with 2 deep puncture wounds where the dogs teeth had entered the skin, and a chunk of its back was missing.The wounds seem to be healing well, but the poor animal is still in shock and I shall feel a lot happier when it gets its appetite back.
Now for the funny bits!
Last year "Baz from Walsall" offered to overwinter a hedgehog for me, "Ill keep it in a hutch in the garden" he said. I told him that no, it was far too cold in the garden as the little hog needed to be kept somewhere warmer so that it would not hibernate." thats fair enough" he said, "Ill keep it in a box in the house"
Baz from Walsall sent me texts now and then to keep me updated on his hedgehog.
One day I returned home to find a message on my answere phone; "Joan, its Baz from Walsall, Im in a mess, please ring me the soon as you get this message"
"The mess" was, his hedgehog had escaped from its box and no one could find it.He told me that they had searched all the rooms downstairs as it could`nt get upstairs. I told him that considering that hedgehogs can climb a 6ft fence, it would have no problem with stairs. "Oh, bloody hell" he said, and put the phone down!
Two days later, I had this text from Baz; " Hi Joan, its Baz from Walsall, we had to call the police in to catch her,it took 3 of them, all have black eyes and missing teeth. They had to Tazer her and handcuff her. Doctors say that my arm will mend well but my leg will take a bit longer, am having the tin of cat food removed from my a--e tomorrow!"
Then, a week later, this text;
"Hi Joan, its Baz from Walsall, the police did`nt press charges after last months violence. The house is nearly back in one piece but its been hard sitting on a chair with only 3 legs after she smashed it over a coppers head. Anyway,when can I let her out on those poor blokes out there?"
Thank you Baz, its people like you that help to make the task worthwhile!
OCTOBER
I have been trying to catch up with the news on this website for months now, but every time I try, either one (or both!) of my phones ring, or the doorbell chimes. So, hopefully this time I will succeed !
There were plenty of Open Days this year to which I took hedgehogs. Northycote Farm has to be one of my favourites, and this year Colin came along to help me. (Colin used to work at Rodbaston College and really knows his stuff when it comes to animals)
As usual, there was a lot of interest in the hedgehogs. Colin was sitting down with one of the hogs on his lap when the hedgehog decided to not only poo on him, but wee also. That was entertainment in itself for the crowd that had gathered around, but when Colin stood up, there was a big wet patch on the front of his trousers. I said that he could have at least waited until he got to the men`s room, but when he stood with his legs apart frantically rubbing at the patch with a towel, it was such an hilarious sight that I said; "For heavens sake Colin, go behind the screen to do that".
It was as usual, a good day!
Another event was Wild About Tamworth. It was a glorious day and very well attended by both the different wild life groups and the public.
My stand was next to my friends, The Staffordshire Badger Group whom I have to thank for their continuing support. I also want to thank Ruth and John who came along to help out and give me a breather. Standing all day and continually repeating the same answers to the same questions from people is very tiring and I am always glad of help, happily I have not been short of any yet.
The show was well attended and the public were generous with their donations.
During the hot spell I went to pick up a hedgehog from a garden just a few miles from where I live. I arrived there to find not a garden, just a rubbish dump. No grass, no plants, no bushes, no shelter from the scorching heat. On one piece of what should have been a path, was the body of a newly born hoglet. After only a minute, I found the mother hog, on the bare soil with her nose pressed up against a concrete post, desperately trying to hide herself and find shelter.
As I picked her up, blood came out of her and her tummy was caked in it. On asking the "lady of the house" how the hedgehog had got there, she said that her husband had found it at work and had "brought it home for the kids".(Just how ignorant can some people be!) I took the poor animal straight to my vet`s who examined her and gave her an injection. She stayed with me for a few weeks until she was completely recovered, then was released back to the wild.
One morning a lady arrived holding a tiny hoglet, about 2 week`s old. The lady explained that she was a vet on maternity leave and had`nt got a clue about hedgehogs, all she knew was that you must not feed them cow`s milk, so she gave the little one, guess what, on maternity leave??? I told her that I hope that with those spikes, she had`nt given her milk direct, she assured me that she had`nt !
The hedgehog grew to be a big heathly male, and the lady vet came to collect him back to take to her own garden, and when she saw him she cried!
My Open Day was held on a Saturday this year and it turned out to be the right decision. We must have had at least 150 turn up that day,you could walk on their heads. Friends and Wild Life colleagues turned up and I did`nt even know that they had been. The house and garden were so packed with people, that folks were turning up, having their tea and cakes, buying a raffle ticket, then going back home.
Glenys, Lynne and Mick worked like mad making the tea and coffee and washing up, David and Peter did the raffle and Carol and Sharon went around "persuading" money out of folks in one devious way or another, then they all got together to count the proceeds------------a massive £710 !!!
Obviously I cant thank these wonderful friends enough, I was tired, but they were exhausted. Thank you all again. The bad/good news is you lot, the White Horse pub have offered a room free of charge for next years event, coffee encluded, so we will get even more people to join us!
I cant finish without, as always, thanking my wonderful vet, Craig, AND his team, at E.C.Straiton & Partners Veterinary Hospital. All of the vets there willingly treat the hedghogs I take to them, and as I said before, I could not possibly carry on this work without their help. My thanks also go to the girls who work behind the desk there, who always "fit me in" no matter how busy they are.