Not nice for Hedgehogs.

[reynardo]

Knowing how some people here view the prickly little dears, you won't want to read this, which I have reproduced under here:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- A New Zealand man has been accused of assault with a prickly weapon -- a hedgehog.

Police allege that William Singalargh, 27, picked up the hedgehog and threw it at a 15-year-old boy in the North Island east coast town of Whakatane on February 9.

"It hit the victim in the leg, causing a large, red welt and several puncture marks," police Senior Sgt. Bruce Jenkins said Monday. The teen did not need medical treatment, he added.

Police arrested Singalargh shortly after the incident, and charged him with assault with a weapon -- "namely the hedgehog," Jenkins said.

At a hearing in Whakatane District Court on February 14, Singalargh's lawyer said he intended to plead innocent, The Herald on Sunday newspaper reported. The case is due to resume on April 17. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison, Jenkins said.

"People often get charged with assault for throwing things at other people," Jenkins said, although he admitted the use of a hedgehog as a weapon was "uncommon."

It was unclear if he also would face animal cruelty charges. The Herald said the hedgehog was dead when it was collected as evidence, but did not know if it was dead or alive at the time of the alleged attack.

The Herald reported Singalargh's arrest under the headline "Raise your hands and step away from the hedgehog."

Comments

[sootysmudge.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that there were hedgehogs in NZ.

[silverblue.livejournal.com]

Aww, poor Hedgie.

[mr-figgy.livejournal.com]

I appreciate the cut, but someone posted that to the hedgehogs ljcommunity without a cut so I've already been made aghast anyway; I knew the moment I read your subject line, just knew, what this would be about. :( The offending post might have since been deleted, but not before I saw it.

I'm shuddering both at the thought that the poor dear may have been alive when thrown, as that couldn't have been fun, and what it must have felt like to be hit by one. Those mites Oona's getting injections to kill off, the ones causing her to shed quills? Some of those loose quills find their way onto my floor, and wouldn't you know I walk around that room in socked, sometimes bare feet. The last one I stepped on didn't even sink in particulary deep and was painful anyway.

[squasher.livejournal.com]

I would sooooooooo have a pet hedgehog if I could.....
so instead I am thinking about getting a turtle someday ;)

[mr-figgy.livejournal.com]

Hedgies are as adorable as they are antisocial; still, even though the best you can get with hedgie games is "Come nibble a treat out of my hand without biting me" and "Look, a toilet paper roll" it's worth it to have this adorable thing in your home.

[nefaria.livejournal.com]

Oooo, could I make the headlines if I threw Buzzy at someone?