Pregnant pet rat left to starve in shopping bag in Camelon
17 February
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Vulnerable: Buttons was very distressed when she was found
A heavily pregnant rat was abandoned inside a Lidl bag with no food or water in Camelon.
The distressed pet was spotted inside the canvas shopper by a member of the public who was walking his dog one afternoon (Wednesday, February 15) near Lime Road. He took her to a local pet shop before calling the Scottish SPCA.
The brown and white domestic rat, who has been named Buttons, is expected to give birth soon.
Inspector Leanne McPake described the abandonment of Buttons as “a particularly heartless act which involved a pregnant animal.”
She added: "A rat ball had been placed beside the bag Buttons was found in but she had no food or water and was left in an extremely vulnerable position. She was abandoned in a remote spot and it is very lucky she was found by a responsible person who helped her.
"She has certainly been through an ordeal and we are keen to identify the cruel person who dumped her there."
Abandoning an animal is an offence that carries stiff penalties. Anyone found guilty of doing so can expect to be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period or life.
Anyone with information relating to this abandonment is being urged to contact the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.
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