‘Sick’ attack on animal rescue van
WINDOWS BRICKED, TYRES SLASHED AND GRAFFITI SCRATCHED ON CHARITY VEHICLE
A VAN used to rescue and transport sick animals was smashed up in a ‘sickening attack.’
The vehicle – clearly marked ‘Pennine Pen Animal Rescue’ – was parked outside Pennine Pen Animal Rescue in Oldham on Friday night when it was vandalised.
A brick was thrown through the driver-side window, covering the seats in broken glass. A second brick is believed to have been used to shatter the windscreen.
All four tyres were slashed and offensive messages were scratched into the paintwork.
According to Pennine Pen bosses, the vehicle is used to take animals to the vets and collect those in need of help.
Writing on Facebook, bosses said: “This only impacts on our animals.”
A spokesman for the charity on Honeywell Lane described the incident as a ‘sickening attack,’ which they believe was targeted.
They added: “We have no idea why someone has done this, but with the damage caused – the bricks through the windows – someone must have heard something.
“All the tyres have been slashed, the windscreen is smashed, and the paint work has been scratched with offensive wording.
“We are now without a van for anything up to two weeks, and when it is repaired it won’t be able to live at the location overnight anymore.”
Bosses are now looking to increase security at the centre.
”We just don’t know how far people are willing to go,” the spokesman added.
Writing on the Facebook page on Sunday, Pennine Pen appealed for help to raise the funds needed for security improvements.
It wrote: “After the attack yesterday on our vehicle, we feel it is necessary to enhance the security arrangements at the rescue to keep both the premises and our animals safe, but we need to raise the income to cover the cost.
“Yesterday was disturbing for all at the rescue that someone would go as far as they did to target a charity working tirelessly to help animals.
“It would really help us if there were any small businesses local to the area that would be willing to have a Pennine Pen collection box in the workplace, either on a shop counter, or in a staff canteen, to help us to raise funds.”
The charity, which was set up in 2001 and cares for all sorts of animals including cats and dogs, also has a fundraising page people can donate via www.mydonate.bt.com/charities/penninepenanimalrescue.
Pennine Pen say the incident is being investigated by police.
GMP are yet to comment.