AR-News: (UK) Rocket gang kills tiny gerbil by strapping him to fireworks

[Snugglezzz at aol.com]

Rocket gang kill gerbil 
 
  
By SUN ONLINE REPORTER

CRUEL yobs killed a tiny gerbil by strapping it to a firework and launching it into the sky. 

The five men - all in their early twenties - blew-up the pet in a sick pre-meditated attack.

The thugs bought a pack of rockets in a shop and then cheekily asked the owner for an elastic band to tie the baby animal to the rocket.

Earlier the gang had posed as genuine pet lovers to buy the £3.50 rodent.

Soon after the gang were spotted by locals blowing-up the animal on a recreation ground.

Victor Ramsey, 61, who owns the general store in Chesterton, where the gang bought the rockets, said: "When I sold one of the lads the fireworks he said, 'have you got a rubber band',

"I said OK, I have got one on my till I can give you. A few minutes later another customer came into the shop and said ’If you knew what those b*****ds have done with your firework you would never have sold it to them'.

"It's horrific, you just can’t believe it."

His wife added: "I was disgusted by it. If they do that sort of thing to an innocent animal, you wonder what they are capable of. It made me sick."

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA described the incident as "an horrific attack" and urged any one with information to come forward.

She added: "On the face of it, this would seem to be an incident that beggars belief.

"It is obviously something we are very concerned about."

 TWO teenagers underwent plastic surgery today after they were badly burnt playing with fireworks in Eston, Cleveland.