A FAMILY of 12 pet mice have been found by a dog walker in Bewdley after being abandoned in a carrier bag in freezing cold weather.

On Thursday, December 15 a woman was walking her dog in a field behind St Anne’s C of E Primary School in Wyre Hill, Bewdley at about 9 am when she spotted a plastic bag and noticed it was moving.

She opened it up and to her surprise found 12 mice - three female, three male adults and six babies thought to be only ten days to two weeks old, curled up inside.

The woman took the mice home and put them in a spare cage she had for her own pets, before they were collected by RSPCA inspector Claire Davey.

They were checked over at the charity’s Newbrook Farm Animal Centre and Hospital in Birmingham from where they will be rehomed.

Kidderminster Shuttle: A dog walker has found the mice behind St Anne’s C of E Primary School in Wyre Hill, Bewdley.A dog walker has found the mice behind St Anne’s C of E Primary School in Wyre Hill, Bewdley. (Image: RSPCA.)

The RSPCA say the mice would most likely have perished in the freezing conditions had they not been found in time by the dog walker.

Claire said: “Abandoning animals like this is really cruel and these poor mice were so vulnerable left in a bag in freezing conditions.

“It’s possible their owner had become overwhelmed by the number they had and couldn’t cope - which is sadly something we see quite often - but discarding pets in this way is completely unacceptable and we would urge anyone with information about this incident to contact our appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

“Thankfully we don’t think they had been left for too long before being found as they most likely would have perished from the cold or escaped and been killed otherwise.

“The lady who found them was so caring, taking them home and making sure they were comfortably housed before calling us.

“She undoubtedly saved their lives, and it’s because of her kind actions that we are now able to find them loving new homes.”