A popular pets’ corner has described a man who hurled two young cockerels over a fence as ‘incredibly irresponsible’.
The birds were thrown into the enclosure at Longford Park, in Stretford, by a man who pulled up in a white minibus.
The incident on Saturday afternoon was captured on CCTV at the spot, which is popular with families from Stretford and Chorlton.
A man, accompanied by a young boy, can be seen in the footage carrying the birds before launching them high into the air over a metal fence into the pets enclosure.
The birds were thrown into the enclosure at Longford Park, in Stretford, by a man who pulled up in a white minibus
Both the man and the child then leave the scene in a white minibus.
It is believed it was an attempt to dump the birds – but if another cockerel had been in the enclosure at the same time there would have been a fight to the death.
Fortunately, both cockerels escaped injury.
Speaking on behalf of Longford Park Pets’ Corner, Nigel Woodcock said: ‘This is incredibly irresponsible and it’s surprising that neither bird was injured by being flung so high.
The incident on Saturday was captured on CCTV at the spot, which is popular with families
A man can be seen in the footage carrying the birds before launching them high into the air over a metal fence into the pets enclosure
‘It was no doubt a traumatic and bewildering experience for the young birds, but happily they have now been rehomed by a new sanctuary called Roosters Rescue, near St. Helen’s.
‘We have paid for their petrol and something towards their keep. We were lucky that there was no other cockerel in the same enclosure, as they would have fought to the death to protect their territory.
‘Perhaps the culprit had heard that Lord Longford (a cockerel) had died recently, of old age, but nothing excuses such cruel behaviour.’
It is believed it was an attempt to dump the birds – but if another cockerel had been in the enclosure at the same time there would have been a fight to the death
Mr Woodcock said it is not the first time something like this has happened. He added: ‘We just want to emphasise that we are not a sanctuary and don’t have room to take new animals, although we do get asked all the time.
‘Sadly, this is not the first time that birds have been thrown over the fence.
‘Our state-of-the-art CCTV is monitored 24/7, but they were in and out of the park in six minutes, so we had no time to react.
‘We hope that someone might recognise this man, so that we can contact him and ask him to cover our expenses – and not to do it again.’