Oxford Bird Rescue to close after 10 years open, and thousands of birds saved
From reporter Amber Allott:
After nearly a decade rescuing hawks hit by cars and nursing injured owls back to health, one of Canterbury’s best-loved wildlife rescues will be closing its doors.
North Canterbury’s Oxford Bird Rescue Trust, run by husband-and-wife team Scott and Tracey Bowman, specialises in rescuing and rehabilitating raptors – or birds of prey.
The rescue announced on social media last week that Scott's health had taken a turn for the worse, and he had been diagnosed with motor neuron disease.
“Unfortunately there is no cure, it is aggressively debilitating and terminal and his prognosis isn't great, not giving him a lot of time left.
“We have spent the last few weeks looking at the road ahead and given his condition and rate of decline we simply can't offer the care required to continue rehabbing raptors.”
The rescue would finish rehabilitating the last few birds in its care, Bowman said, before closing for good.
For locals who found injured owls and hawks going forward, Bowman said they might face a bit more of a drive.
The South Island Wildlife Hospital, based at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, would be taking on most of the raptor care, he said.
“They’re best set up, especially for the harriers.”
The pair planned to donate a lot of their equipment to other bird rescues, hopefully including the new Kaikōura Wildlife Hospital, Bowman said.
Their unique, custom-built hawk enclosure – which allowed full in-house rehabilitation – would go to the South Island Wildlife Hospital.
“There’s still going to be people doing it, it just won’t be us.”
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Dog sitter wanted
Hi there peoples sometime ago Hubby and I with our golden labrador who is nine Maxi, was talking to somebody in coffee culture now it could have been over a year ago just wondered if you are out there or does anybody else take on dog sitting in their home? We are off overseas for four weeks and end July to end August our usual home based doggy sitter is unable to help us during this time. Maxi is very placid and laid back she is the first dog to roll over, lie on her back and say … you can be the boss! LOL Maxi is not really an outside dog she sleeps inside our house bus with us and is with us all the time as we are now retired. appreciate anybody who loves dogs. Will have a few play dates before we go and that way you can be happy if you volunteer and so can we, there will be some payment compensation.
Regards Sylvia
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