WNTV: HUFF PUFF THE GIANT HEDGEHOG LEAVES HOME
AND SPRITE THE PONY IS STILL GOING STRONG AT 37 YEARS OF AGE
When
Huff Puff the hedgehog first arrived at the Furze Pig Hedgehog
Rescue Centre in Peterstow last October, she was in poor
health and weighed a mere 250 grammes. We are very pleased
to be able to report that after a lot of care and attention
from Maureen, proprietor of the centre, Huff Puff now weighs
in at a massive 2kg and is about to be released back into
the wild. Huff Puff certainly lives up to her name, huffing
and puffing when doing something she doesn't really want
to do, such as be weighed or encouraged to show her face
for too many cameras.
Huff
Puff is enormous by normal hedgehog standards, as Stephen,
who arrived at the Furze Pig on Boxing Day is considered
a large hedgehog at 800 grammes. You can see a massive difference
in their sizes in the photographs below. Maureen told us
that all of the hedgehogs receive the same food etc., so
Huff Puff's size is a bit of a mystery. Stephen is due to
be released into his natural habitat next week, as is Big
Al, who was named after Alan and has been in Maureen's care
since last July.
Maureen
does get attached to her patients, but although she feels
a little sad when she lets them go, she is really pleased
that they are going back to where they belong.
Meet Huff Puff the giant hedgehog, along with Big Al, Stephen and
Sprite, the legendary 37 year old riding school pony.
Maureen
has over the years nursed many hedgehogs back to health,
from babies so young that their prickly spines had not yet
grown to more mature ones who had been injured or were malnourished.
However, Maureen's care has not just been extended to hedgehogs.
She has also been caring for Sprite, a 37 year old pony,
who is very well known locally.
Sprite was once a schooling pony at the Lea Riding School
and most children in South Herefordshire who took lessons
their learned on Sprite. When the school closed, Maureen
offered him a home, where he is still enjoying life.
At
Christmas time, Sprite became very ill with liver disease
and Maureen thought she was going to lose him. The vets
didn't hold out much hope either, but with lots of medical
attention and love, Sprite is now back on his feet and eagerly
awaits his regular treats of ginger nut biscuits. Maureen
was very touched by all the get well cards and messages
she received for Sprite.
Providing
all this care for Sprite and the hedgehogs is very expensive
and the cost of medicines, food electricity etc. has to
come from Maureen and her husband Derek's own pockets, save
for a few kind donations made by visitors and the local
Animal Welfare Shop. If you would like to help Maureen to
continue in her valuable work she would be grateful for
any donations of cat and dog food, (fish free varieties),
newspapers to line the cages with and maybe a packet or
two of the hedgehogs' favourite treats, digestive biscuits.
If
you would like to help, give Maureen a call on 01989 567288.
She will be extremely pleased to hear from you.
