Elderly Woman Surprised When She Realized The Animal She Saved Was Not Real

An elderly animal lover's compassionate gesture turned out to be a case of mistaken identity when she spent a whole night caring for what she believed to be a sick baby hedgehog, only to discover it was not a hedgehog at all... 

Taking The Creature To The Animal Hospital

The incident unfolded when the woman spotted what she thought was an abandoned critter on the side of a road in England. Without hesitation, she sprang into action, scooping up the tiny creature and rushing it to Lower Moss Wood Nature Reserve & Wildlife Hospital in Cheshire after a night without witnessing any movement or signs of eating.

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Wildlife Hospital manager Janet Kotze shared, "It was the first admission of the day. The lady came in with a box, she said she had found this baby hedgehog on the pavement and it was cold and she picked it up."

However, upon closer inspection, Kotze realized that the supposed hedgehog was, in fact, a pom-pom off a winter hat. "I couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing," she recounted. "I thought: ‘It’s definitely not a hedgehog, perhaps it’s some other kind of a fluffy creature.'"

It Was Not A Hedgehog At All

Despite the embarrassment, the elderly woman's good intentions were undeniable. Kotze described her as "very sweet" and noted that her heart was undoubtedly in the right place. The woman had cared for the faux fur pom-pom, lining a cardboard box with newspaper and providing cat food in an attempt to nurse the "hedgehog" back to health.

A Light Hearted Mistake

Reflecting on the incident, Kotze emphasized the importance of being vigilant and checking carefully before assuming an animal is in need of assistance. While the mistaken identity brought laughter to the hospital staff, it also served as a reminder for other animal lovers to be observant and take action if a genuine hedgehog is spotted in distress.

Despite the comical mix-up, the compassionate act of the elderly woman resonated deeply with the staff at Lower Moss Wood Nature Reserve & Wildlife Hospital, demonstrating the power of empathy and kindness, even in moments of misunderstanding.

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