The Start of It All (with thanks to Elaine Drewery of Hedgehog Care, Authorpe, for her story)

Mr Potterton was rather late for work one morning when suddenly he saw a badly injured hedgehog lying helplessly in the middle of the very busy road.  The traffic was travelling too fast for an emergency stop so he carefully avoided squashing the hedgehog by ensuring that his wheels ran either side of it.  He parked on the grass verge as soon as he could and ran back, relieved that the other drivers were following his example, but alarmed to see that in the line of oncoming traffic was a Reliant Robin!  Risking his own life and bravely ignoring painful prickles, he quickly snatched up the casualty just in time and acknowledged the thankful expression of the driver in the three-wheeled car as it passed.  Poor hedgehog was prickling with fear and pain and was too badly hurt to even roll up into a ball.  His fuzzy little face looked up desperately at his rescuer who was absolutely horrified at the serious injuries the friendly little chap had sustained.

Mr Potterton couldn’t think what to do and then he remembered the shop where he bought his dog food, Perky Pets, and decided that they were the best people to help him.  Marion, the owner, loved all animals and was saddened and shocked by the state of the arrival at her store.  She knew of Hedgehog Care at Authorpe and, without hesitation, delivered the defenceless patient there.

It was touch and go for several days on the new admissions ward at the busy hospital.  A splintered leg and dislocated jaw needed operations by the vet and intensive nursing at Hedgehog Care.  Eventually, a three-legged hedgehog with a sideways smile counted his blessings at being alive – life is very precious, even to a hedgehog.

Delighted to be alive, the little fellow settled in happily with the other specials needs patients and was given the name ‘Perky Potterton’ in tribute to his life-saving friends.  He was always interested in the many comings and goings at Hedgehog Care and, one day, saw the arrival of Spike, who was delivered by a kind man in an exceedingly smart suit.  Spike had fallen down an uncovered drain and, after being trapped for many days, was cold, thin and very weak.  Given warmth, fluids, vitamins, careful nursing and, eventually, meals of good quality cat food, he improved rapidly and was soon anxious to leave.  The smart gentleman (who had since covered the drain to prevent other hedgehogs falling in) was quite happy to take Spike back home to complete his recovery but, when he asked what would be the best food to feed Spike, was amazed to learn that there was no food made specifically for hedgehogs!

Now, the smart gentleman also knew Marion at Perky Pets as he happened to be her bank manager, so off he went to confirm that there really was no special food for his new charge.  They both threw up their hands at this ridiculous state of affairs and vowed there and then that there would be a ‘dinner for Spike’.

After all the necessary research was done, Perky Potterton and his friends were eager tasters and testers and soon a delicious and nutritious chicken-based food was developed, manufactured, canned and called ‘Spike’s Dinner’.  At long last, hedgehogs were being treated with the respect they deserved!

Everyone was excited.  The Hedgehog Care patients ate more and more and, having their own food, they now felt quite important.  Soon other hedgehog hospitals were hearing about Spike’s Dinner and wanting to try it. All the newspapers, radio and television people laughed and laughed and made lots of news and jokes about it. Animal lovers wanted it for feeding to prickly visitors. Sensible gardeners fed it to their “Gardeners Friends”. Pet shops, garden centres and wholesalers couldn’t get enough and Marion and her staff were rushed off their feet ensuring that demand was met and shelves were stocked throughout the U.K.. All good people were dutifully joining the queues to do the right thing to attract hedgehogs to their gardens. Hedgehogs were busy trying to build up their weight to survive winter hibernation and Spike’s Dinner was the answer to all their prayers.

Temporary and permanent guests at Hedgehog Care munch their way through tons of Spike’s Dinner every year and Perky Potterton proudly explains the origins of their food to each new patient. Back home in his garden, fed regularly on the food he inspired, Spike lived happily ever after.