Firm believers that all animals, great and small, deserve humane treatment, the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) reported its recent efforts to save an Eastern grey squirrel after it was rescued from an act of cruelty.
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‘Despite the Eastern Grey Squirrel being classified as vermin, invasive and a threat to their indigenous counterparts, they arguably still add value and deserve to be dealt with in a humane manner,’ AWS expressed on Facebook.
The animal organisation said one of its volunteers recently spotted a homeless man in Plumstead, swinging the little squirrel around by its tail and punching it.
Despite the safety risk and without hesitation, the volunteer sprung into action immediately, grabbing the squirrel from the man and bringing it into the care of the AWS.
After consulting Squirrel Rescue and Rehabilitation on how best to treat the squirrel, medical assessments found that the squirrel sustained multiple bone breaks and fractures.
Despite their best efforts, the squirrel died several hours later due to complications associated with the injuries sustained.
‘It must have been in excruciating pain and we can only guess how long it suffered before succumbing to its fatal injuries,’ expressed AWS.
‘We know that these animals are poached and eaten by desperate individuals but for any animal, regardless of their fate, to be terrified and beaten to death is totally unacceptable and punishable,’ the organisation added.
AWS urges the public to report incidents of animal cruelty to its Inspectorate Department on 021 692 2626 during office hours or 082 601 1761 after hours.
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