'I found it funny afterwards, but I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing’

This hospital has seen many weird and wonderful creatures, but they’d never seen anything like this before.

A compassionate animal lover walked away from a vet hospital with her tail between her legs after making this rather embarrassing error.

The unidentified woman stumbled upon what appeared to be an injured creature lying on the pavement.

The woman spent the evening tending to what she suspected was a wounded baby hedgehog, creating a makeshift home lined with newspaper and even offering a small dish of food.

She decided she’d take it to the animal hospital the following day but kept a close eye on it throughout the night.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this.

An embarrassing surprise

The next morning, the woman rushed to the Lower Moss Wood Nature Reserve & Wildlife Hospital in Knutsford, Cheshire, cradling the mystery creature in a box. 

Little did she know, her act of kindness was about to take an unexpected turn. 

As she eagerly awaited assistance, hospital manager Janet Kotze opened the box, only to be greeted by a sight that left her very confused.

'I opened the box and, well, I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing. I thought, "it's definitely not a hedgehog, perhaps it's some other kind of a fluffy creature".

Instead of the expected sight of a tiny hedgehog, Janet found herself face to face with a woolly pompom. 

Yes, you read that right—a pompom. 

The rescuer's reaction mirrored Janet's own astonishment as she processed the revelation. 

"You're joking?" she uttered sheepishly, realising the humorous mistake she had made.

Introducing our new podcast: Mum Club! Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

A good laugh

Janet later revealed, “I realised it wasn't animated at all and I picked it up and obviously, with the weight, I could feel that it wasn't a hedgehog or any animal at all.

“She was very sweet, bless her, her heart was in the right place. 

“She took the box from me and left quite quickly.

“I found it funny afterwards, but I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing because, to me a hedgehog is obviously a hedgehog.

“I don't think she'll make the same mistake again, I think she'll check next time.”

RELATED: Dog behaviours your child needs to know

I mean, I can kind of see why she thought that. Source: Kennedy News and Media

“I was never here”

With embarrassment and a slightly bruised ego, the well-intentioned woman quietly retreated from the hospital, the box cradling the faux hedgehog in tow. 

Janet couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all, understanding that genuine care had led to an unintentional error.

What to do if you find an injured animal

According to WIRES, the go-to wildlife rescue crew, there are several tips for helping injured critters while staying out of harm's way. 

They first recommend steering clear of certain animals, like snakes and bats, as they require specialised help from trained rescuers. Instead, keep a safe distance and dial for backup ASAP.

If you encounter an injured animal, your goal is to keep it safe. 

That means removing any potential threats and giving the animal space until the rescue team arrives. 

Unless it's an urgent situation, it's also best to leave healthy young animals with their families.

When it's time to spring into action, contact a vet immediately. Handle the animal with care, ensuring it's comfortable, and take it to the vet for assessment and treatment.

Remember, precise location details are crucial for potential reunification or proper release after rehabilitation. 

It's also important to know that keeping wild animals as pets is against the law—so no matter how cute that baby koala (or is it a pompom?) is, it’s cruel to rehome them in your home.

RELATED: 'A monkey bit my daughter in Bali and it cost me $950'

Janet couldn't help but have a little chuckle. Source: Kennedy News and Media

What to do if you find an injured pompom?

Well, this seems to be unchartered territory here, but we suggest taking the pompom from its environment and knitting it on a beanie.

You could also add it to a keychain, offer it to a cat, or donate it to your local craft or op-shop.

Just don’t mistake it for an injured animal.

Originally published as 'I found it funny afterwards, but I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing’