Police seek witnesses after youths set fire to hedgehog

Photo / Thinkstock

Dunedin police are seeking witnesses to an incident in which two boys apparently set fire to a hedgehog, killing it.

A person in Doon St, Mosgiel, reported the incident, which happened near a skatepark, to police just after 10pm on Monday.

She told police she heard what sounded like fireworks and when she saw flames and heard squealing, went to see what was going on.

She found the burned, dead hedgehog, and saw two youths leaving on bicycles.

It was believed the youths were setting spray from a paint can on fire with a lighter, Senior Sergeant Mel Aitken said.

SPCA official Phil Soper said any act of cruelty like that to any animal was not okay.

"Especially if it's children, it's not good," he said.

"It's an offence under the Animal Welfare Act, and the police are investigating so if they track them down, I hope they will look at [prosecution] under that."

If anyone knew they youths, or saw anything they should contact police, Senior Sergeant Aitken said.

- Otago Daily Times