The RSPCA is appealing for information after a hamster was abandoned by a man in a park in Sutton Coldfield.

A member of the public was walking through Newhall Park on Tuesday (April 3) when they saw a bald man in his mid-30s wearing jeans and a black jacket walking with the empty hamster cage after letting the hamster out.

The member of the public contacted the RSPCA and Animal Collection Officer (ACO) Cara Gibbon collected the poor hamster, now nicknamed Hammy.

She said: “The kind member of the public who contacted us was quite shocked to see a man dumping the hamster with an H&M carrier bag with some toys, food and sawdust inside and then walking off with the cage. He asked if she likes animals and offered to give the hamster to her. Worried she wouldn’t be able to catch the hamster, she asked him to leave the cage and took the hamster home before contacting us.

“Hammy the hamster, is physically okay and in a good condition. I have no idea why the man decided to abandon him in such a callous way. There is never an excuse to abandon an animal like this and to dump a hamster in a park and leave him open to the elements as well as predators is almost condemning him to death.

“We rely on members of the public to be our eyes and ears and we are very grateful to the member of the public who stepped in and rescued this hamster.”

Hammy is now at the RSPCA Walsall Branch and will be available for rehoming soon.

If you have any information about how this hamster came to be abandoned contact the inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.