I didn't see him yesterday, but I found him in the middle of the garden path this afternoon. We'd been ouy, got back, and I went to let the Girls out and found him. He didn't curl up, he didn't run away. He was clearly in a bad way.
I hurried back to the house to get some gardening gloves, and shouted for DH to come and help I scopped the poor little thing up and brought him in to the house, while DH and I discussed what to do.
I checked online, and DH went out to Myshed to get the cat/chicken carrier. I looked online for local rescues, all the while holding the little hog in my hand.
The nearest rescue was only a few miles away , but their answerphone message said they were full and to phone the British Hedgehog Preservation Society for the numbers of other rescues. I did that, and got the number of one a bit further away. She advised us what to do in the meantime so we popped Hedgie on a heated pad (luckily we had one which is microwaveable), put some food and water nearby, and covered him in a little towel. His nose wiggled at the food, but he didn't try and eat, not even when I put a bit right beside him.
The lady who answered from the 2nd rescue was very apologetic, but they were full also. She gave me the number of another rescue, further away still, and reiterated the advise given by the BHPS.
I phoned the 3rd rescue(on a premium rate number, all proceeds go to care for the animals).I weighed him for them, and he was only 250g. They need to be 500g-600g at this time of year o have a chance of surviving the winter. They said they'd have space to overwinter him, we jumped in the car and had a bit of an excursion - about 45 miles round trip.
I didn't make a donation (we'd already spent quite a bit on the premium rate phone line and fuel), but I felt a bit mean. I bought something from their Amazon wishlist instead.
I hope the little sausage is OK.
