Three more hamsters dumped in bin (From Daily Echo)

Three more hamsters dumped in bin

7:31am Friday 19th October 2012 in News

THREE MORE hamsters have been found dumped in a bin in Southampton – just 24 hours after another rodent was found abandoned in the same bin.

The three binmen saw the hamsters curled up together as they were emptying the bin in Millbrook. Now the RSPCA has launched investigation into whether the two incidents are linked.

Council workers Sam Appleby, 23, Ben Savage, 22, and Roger Fielder, 53, pictured right, alerted the RSPCA when they made the discovery.

Ben Savage said: “We sometimes find some strange things, but this is the weirdest I have ever seen. I do not understand why people would chuck them away in a bin. You wouldn’t chuck your dog or cat away, would you?”

The three hamsters, one male and two females, all appeared in good condition and were taken to the RSPCA in Shirley.

On Wednesday the Daily Echo reported how a hamster was found abandoned in the same bin by another council worker and was later rehomed by groundsman Paul Adams, 58, from Woolston.

An RSPCA spokesman said: “It is lucky someone found them. If people cannot look after their animals they should call the RSPCA. It is unacceptable for a person to throw away an animal in a bin.”

Under the animal welfare laws anyone caught dumping an animal could face fines of up to £20,000, or a maximum jail sentence of a year and a lifetime ban from keeping pets.