Rats dumped in a hedgerow along a rural lane near Kenilworth

Seven rats have been dumped in a hedgerow along a rural lane near Kenilworth, inside two filthy cages.

The two cages were rusty and dirty and the water inside their water bottles had turned bright green.

A member of the public spotted the rats when they were out walking their dog along Hollis Lane in Kenilworth on Sunday August 16.

The lid was off one of the cages and two of the rats were running loose in the bushes nearby, as well as five more rats inside the second filthy cage.

The member of the public who spotted them tried to catch the other two rats but couldn’t get close enough, so he took the remaining five rats home and contacted the RSPCA for help.

Inspector Steven Morrall, who collected the rats, is now investigating how they came to be abandoned in such a poor state.

He said: “These rats were abandoned on a quiet country lane in the undergrowth of some bushes and would not have been seen by passing vehicles.

"The five surviving rats are therefore very lucky that they were found when they were or they too could have died. It would seem like they have been there for at least a few days, exposed to the elements and without fresh water or food.

“After collecting the rats in the cage, I went back to the location to try and find the other two but sadly only discovered one deceased rat which appeared to have succumbed to the stormy weather. The remaining five rats are now at RSPCA Newbrook Animal Centre in Birmingham where they are responding well to some TLC.”

The rats are grey and white and there are four males and one female.

Mr Morrall added: “The cages were really rusty which is unlikely to have happened during the few days that they were abandoned, so it would seem like perhaps these rats were being kept outside, in a shed or outbuilding where the cages had become damp.

"There also appears to be marks from a blue marker pen on one of the bottom of the cages, possibly to identify them if there are large quantities of rats in one place.

“We are keen to find out where the rats have come from and how they came to be abandoned in these dirty cages. If you saw anything, or have any information which may help us, please call our inspectorate appeal line, in strictest confidence on 0300 123 8018.”