Burglars sprayed animals with paint during a raid at a pet store in Lincolnshire last week.
In the early hours of Thursday morning (February 10) thieves forced their way into Caves Pet Shop on Peterborough Road in Crowland. Several items including jackets, collars and leads were stolen but, most distressingly for owner Rebecca Cave, she found that chinchillas and a parrot named Buddy had been covered in blue spray paint. Another parrot, Charlie, is missing altogether.
The paint covered Buddy’s face and head, and some appears to have got into his eyes. Rebecca has been applying eye cream to him ever since the attack.
Rebecca, who has run the pet shop for more than 15 years, told the Peterborough Telegraph: “I just couldn’t believe it when I saw what has happened. They got in through the side and didn’t appear on any of the cameras. The door has been smashed down and the metal peeled back.
“My first thought was for the animals though, and seeing the condition they were in just upset everyone. There was no need for that.
“I’ve been treating Buddy with eye cream but the paint won’t wash out anymore, we will just have to wait (until he moults).”
Charlie, a 15-year old Orange-Winged Amazon, remains missing. It was first thought that the thieves had stolen him but he has since been spotted flying free, and Rebecca is hoping he might be drawn to a bird feeding table in the local area.
Both Buddy and Charlie are Rebecca’s pets and have lived together in the shop for the past six years.
