‘We are in desperate need of meaty tins/sachets of dog and cat food.’
Baby hedgehogs need a lot of food (library picture)(Image: SWNS)
A wildlife hospital in Tewkesbury has praised its ‘amazing’ supporters for their generosity after it said it was looking after 120 hungry hedgehogs and was running out of food.
The Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre, in Beckford, is renowned for the way it looks after wounded and ill animals from Gloucestershire and surrounding counties.
And it has just had its busiest July ever with 1,400 patient admissions, including 276 woodpigeons, 177 lesser black-backed gulls and 173 hedgehogs. It also dealt with 190 confirmed cat victims.
On Monday evening (August 4), it issued a direct appeal to its supporters on social media saying: “We currently have over 120 hedgehogs at the hospital, most of which are juveniles and they’re eating a lot!!
“We are in desperate need of meaty tins/sachets of dog and cat food.
“If you can help, please drop them into the hospital in Beckford, or you can order directly from our Amazon Wishlist.”
Dozens of people were swift to respond, pledging food and offering words of support.
One man wrote: “Ordered, thanks for doing what you do. I think the Amazon delivery driver may need a cuppa after unloading all of the parcels they are bringing you.”
A woman wrote: “Wow that’s a lot of dinners, thankyou for looking after them all.”
Baby hedgehogs (file image)(Image: RSPCA)
And another woman wrote: “Doing a skydive on Friday 8th. Chosen charity is Vale Wildlife, think we are over £500 for you guys. Heading your way soon”
It prompted the wildlife hospital in Station Road to say: “This post just goes to show what amazing supporters we have, thank you all so much!!”
Other statistics shared by the wildlife hospital for July included 5,004 calls received, 73 ambulance call-outs and 1,749 miles driven.
It said: “July 2025 was our busiest on record, with 1,400 patient admissions, even busier than June which is usually our busiest month of the year.”
You can support the hospital via its Amazon wishlist here.
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