Abandoned ferret found by binmen

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/sussex/8039922.stm

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A caged ferret dumped in a commercial wheelie bin in an East Sussex town has been rescued by a refuse crew.

The animal was discovered outside a row of shops in Crowborough moments before the bin's contents were emptied into a refuse vehicle and crushed.

The refuse crew from Wealden District Council said they investigated the bin because it was not closed properly.

The pet ferret, which has been named Wealden Will, was taken to Jarvis Brook Depot and adopted by a member of staff.

Kevan Fitzmorris, one of the refuse and recycling crew who found the ferret, said: "We felt something was not right with the bin which had not been properly closed.

"When we looked inside, we saw a ferret next to the small cage which it had been left in. It was looking desperate."

'Cruel fate'

He said they immediately gave the ferret water to drink and it settled quickly.

Colin Pateman, the council's animal welfare officer, said the ferret had been "callously" left to a "cruel fate".

"If people have pets they are no longer able to care for, they should contact the RSPCA or another animal welfare charity," he said.

"They should not just think that pets can be thrown away like a piece of rubbish when they are no longer wanted."

The incident has been reported to the RSPCA, Mr Pateman added, but it had not been possible to trace the person responsible.