The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information after a box containing 11 rats was abandoned outside a block of flats in Edinburgh.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity was alerted on Friday (2 May) after a member of the public made the discovery beside some bins at West Norton Place.
The rats, four boys and seven girls, are now in the care of the Scottish SPCA’s Angus, Fife and Tayside Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre near Dundee, where staff will rehome them.
Animal Rescue Officer Lauren Walker said, “It looks like these little guys and girls have been deliberately abandoned as they were left inside a cardboard box which had air holes in it.
“West Norton Place is quite a busy area so we think it’s likely the person responsible would have been seen.
“If anyone witnessed anything suspicious or knows of anyone who owned a number of rats but doesn’t anymore, we’d ask them to contact us.”
Abandoning an animal is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and anyone found guilty of doing so can expect to be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period or life.
Anyone with information is being urged to contact the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
