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Rodents set loose on Petersfield Heath

25/06/2012

The gerbils rescued from the Heath in Petersfield are looking for a new home.

A cage full of rats was reported as having been released on Petersfield Heath. On further investigation, the rodents in question turned out to be gerbils.

Dave Griffiths, Environmental Protection Officer (Animal Welfare/Pollution), was on the scene and managed to catch ten of them.

Dave said: "I don’t know how many more were loose but I think I caught the majority because they stayed in the area where they had been released. They were obviously used to being picked up and didn’t nip at all. They are sweet little things and I can’t believe someone could be so cruel, they certainly wouldn’t have survived on their own.”

Farringdons Pet Care in Lavant Street, Petersfield kindly agreed to take the gerbils and have already found a home for four of them. There are currently six left – three males and three females. If you are interested in rehoming a gerbil, please call Farringdons on 01730 263297. They are looking for good homes for them but will expect a donation.

A woman of medium build and dark hair, maybe in her 30s, driving a blue car with a registration beginning with the letter T was seen in the Sussex Road car park. It is believed that she had let the gerbils loose and then put the cage in the bin. Dave would like to speak to her urgently.

If you have any more information on this incident, please contact Dave Griffiths 01730 234360 or ehealth@easthants.gov.uk