Lanarkshire SSPCA rescue dumped hamster and injured parrot

Aug 29 2012 by Robert Mitchell, Wishaw Press

Hamster dumped in Motherwells Dalziel Park on August 23, 2012, called Selina by SSPCA.

ANIMAL welfare officers have been busy in Motherwell after rescuing a hamster that was dumped in a park and a parrot that crashed into a window.

The rodent was left inside a cage in Dalzell Park.

Now the Scottish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals are warning that anyone caught abandoning a pet faces a criminal conviction.

Officers are also trying to track down the owner of the parrot as they believe it escaped from home and flew into a window in distress.

The brown and white hamster has been named Selina by staff at Lanarkshire’s SSPCA rescue centre after a member of the public discovered the creature in Dalzell Park on Thursday, August 23, and handed her in.

She had been left beside a pile of rubbish and became stuck inside a hole in the cage.

The centre’s assistant manager Lorraine Alba said: “The lady said she had to free little Selina as she was trapped inside a hole in the bottom of her cage, which had a plastic base and wire top. It’s possible she had chewed through the bottom to try and get out or it could be that the hole was already there.

“Selina is a timid wee girl and she was understandably quite distressed when she arrived here.

“No animal deserves to be dumped like a piece of rubbish and we are very keen to trace the person responsible.”

A resident of Wood Crescent heard the bird hit off her window on Wednesday, August 22, and alerted the welfare charity.

Now named Pepito, the parrot is fully recovered. SSPCA inspector Gillian Dick said: “Thankfully, Pepito didn’t sustain any injuries, although he was a bit stunned.

“He’s a very friendly and confident bird so we’re sure he’s got an owner who is missing him.

“The lady said when she went into her garden to help him, he jumped right onto her shoulder.

“Pepito has an identity ring around his leg but unfortunately we’ve not been able to trace his owner through this.

“Hopefully someone will recognise him and come forward so we can return him home soon.”

If you know who dumped the hamster or who the parrot belongs to, call the SSPCA helpline on 03000 999 999.