THE scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) have appealed for information after 11 cockerels were abandoned near Plean. 

The group were alerted to the birds by a member of the public, who spotted them roaming free on Glen Road on February 2. 

Emma Chisholm, animal rescue officer,  said: “These birds are lucky they were spotted by a vigilant person who realised something wasn’t right.

“We are unsure how long these birds were there for and we are keen to find the person responsible for abandoning them.”

Taylor Johnstone, another officer, said: “Emma was able to catch eight out of the eleven cockerels over the weekend and take them to our centres to be cared for.

“There are still three straying that we were unable to catch and I hope to rescue these last few before they come to any harm."

Abandoning an animal is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

Anyone found guilty of doing so can expect to be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period or life.

If you have information about how the birds came to be abandoned, please call the SSPCA's confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.