02.07.09
More than 2,500 day-old chicks have suffered an horrendous death after being dumped in boxes in a lay-by in direct sunlight.
The 33 neatly stacked boxes were discovered yesterday - Wednesday, 1 July - on Chemical Lane in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, which leads to Queensway Industrial Estate.
The boxes contained pheasant and red-legged partridge chicks, all of which were only a day old.
Chicks didn't stand a chance in stifling heat
When RSPCA Inspector John Groarke attended the scene, he was horrified to find most of the chicks lying lifeless in the boxes after being unable to survive the sweltering heat.
"I am very angry that someone dumped these chicks to die."
Inspector Groarke continued: "It was extremely distressing to open the boxes and find that most of the chicks had been overcome by the heat, and to witness the strongest chicks crawling over the dead birds fighting to survive."
Twelve remaining chicks in critical condition
Inspector Groarke had the upsetting task of counting the number of dumped chicks. The boxes contained 2,590 chicks, but only 54 chicks were still alive.
They were taken to a vet, where sadly 22 dying chicks had to be put to sleep to end their suffering.
The remaining 32 chicks were then taken to the RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich, Cheshire, but tragically a further 20 have since died.
The 12 chicks that are left are being kept in an incubator and are said to be very weak and in a poor condition.
Can you help?
"To me it would appear to be an act of sheer laziness where someone has got out of a vehicle and neatly stacked these boxes in direct sunlight and drove off leaving the birds to suffer an horrendous death," Inspector Groarke said.
"It is possible that someone had just bought the chicks at market and then had second thoughts, or possibly the chicks were dying in the heat while being transported and the delivery driver decided to dump them.
"Whatever the reason, these birds didn't stand a chance and I appeal to anyone who either witnessed anything or who knows where these chicks came from to please contact me."
Anyone with any information at all about these chicks is urged to leave a message for Inspector John Groarke on the the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty and advice line: 0300 1234 999. Calls will be treated in the strictest confidence.
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The tragic news of these dumped chicks comes after we renewed our plea to owners not to leave their pets in hot cars as dogs are losing their lives in the crippling heat.
Heatwave brings more dog deaths
photo © RSPCA
