A flock of 14 chickens was found dumped in wheelie bins in the summer heat in Scotland.
A member of the public discovered the animals in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire on Wednesday 26 June after he saw a lone chicken wandering down the road and alerted Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
The animals were piled on top of each other and were in great distress.
Two of them had died by the time they were found, Scottish SPCA inspector Emma Sergeant said, while “the other chickens were clearly struggling”.
“It was 24 degrees that day so it would have been unimaginably hot for them.
“We have yet to confirm whether the chickens died as a result of being inside the wheelie bins or if they were dead before being placed inside.”
She said that when she first opened the bins, there was an awful stench.
The white and brown chickens were found in two wheelie bins in a lane off Kirk Road in Wishaw.
Scottish SPCA is now appealing for any information related to the incident.
“Someone deliberately put these girls in the bin with complete disregard for their welfare,” said Scottish SPCA inspector Emma Sergeant.
“They were caused great unnecessary suffering due to this act.”
Scottish SPCA said abandoning an animal is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. Anyone found guilty of doing so can expect to be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period or life.
