Dog owners are being asked to watch out for hedgehogs after one of the creatures was badly injured in an attack.

Ray Allibone, of Swampy’s Wildlife Rescue, picked up the animal after the incident in a garden in Kent Avenue, Minster.

It was set upon by a dog which was pulled off by its owner before too much damage was done.

It is on antibiotics and is being bathed every day and it is hoped it will make a full recovery.

However Mr Allibone, of Diamond Court, Sheerness, says it was very lucky not to have had any internal organs affected.

He said: “I can’t release it until the spines have grown. With so many missing it would make it too vulnerable.”

The 57-year-old said it is not the first time he has seen this kind of attack and has another hedgehog in his care which was found near the prison cluster in Eastchurch last autumn after being attacked by a dog.

“That one’s injuries were horrendous. The flesh had been pulled off from its skull and it lost an eye,” he added.

It won’t be released back into the wild but will be cared for by one of the British Hedgehog Society’s volunteers in Folkestone.

Mr Allibone said often the dogs which attack are male although it can sometimes be females which are particularly territorial.

He said: “Hedgehogs make a snorting sound before they roll up which can attract attention and dogs consider it a threat.

“Some are so aggressive and can get hold of them and pinch their flesh.

“I would have thought the dogs would have some damage to their gums as well.”

Mr Allibone asked dog owners to look around their gardens before letting their pets out.