Keeping wild birds

[Kitty]

Hi everyone

For those who don't know, I run a licensed wildlife sanctuary and regularly rehabilitate and release wild birds

Whilst browsing on a classified ads website yesterday I found an advert stating: “Wanted- rescued wild birds”. I won’t paste the actual contents of the advert on here but I found it rather concerning for several reasons so decided to message the advertiser...

In a nutshell, I applauded the advertiser’s interest in wild birds but explained that it’s illegal (in the UK) to keep an animal that’s been caught from the wild. I also mentioned that injured wildlife should be in the hands of a licenced professional to ensure an effective rehabilitation and a speedy release.
In my opinion my message politely expressed concern and offered advise on how to legally help wild birds in need (volunteer at a sanctuary, feed wild birds, donate to charities etc.) but the advertiser seems rather offended and amongst other things said in response:
“The word licensed just means that you are registered with some body or other, that has little real compassion for animals, but looks good on paper, it doesn't impress me in the slightest.
As you are so worried about animal welfare, I do hope you are a vegan, if not you are responsible for the slaughter of many animals every year, and in my opinion are a hypocrite.”

(I found this pretty funny because the advertiser's personal dig backfired...For those who don’t know, I am actually a vegan! V )

I sent a reply stating that I don’t have a licence to ”impress” people or so I can be “registered with someone who has little real compassion for animals”. I have one because that’s what the law says is necessary for me to rehabilitate wildlife and I am willing to do whatever it takes to help animals in need. If I didn’t have a licence my sanctuary would be closed down and I wouldn’t be able to help hundreds of animals each year. I’ve worked very hard to obtain my licence and my sanctuary is funded out of my own pocket but the welfare of the animals in my care is my only priority. Not only is a licence required to ensure what you’re doing is legal but it is also in place to ensure the protection of animals and to make sure they’re given the correct care. I have a licence to ensure what I’m doing is legal but more importantly it is proof of being able to care for injured wildlife correctly.

Anyway, the advertiser said I'm ”targeting someone who’s trying to help wild birds” rather than “petitioning against hunting” ect. (I do petition against hunting and animal cruelty) but in my opinion this person doesn’t have a licence so what they’re doing is not only illegal and breaking the classified ads website rules but could also be dangerous. More importantly this person is deliberately seeking injured wild animals which is preventing them from being correctly cared for by professionals and released back into their natural habitat.

Opinions?
Advice?

 

[JerseyWendy]

Kitti, is there any way for you to "flag" the advertisement, so it will be taken down? Or could you possibly notify the authorities of said advert and have them look into it?

I know here in the US you will get fined heavily if you are caught harboring and/or catching any wild animals without proper licenses.

It's really a shame that this person became belligerent with you, when you obviously know what you are doing, and have gone through great (and costly) lengths to do this legally.

 

[Kitty]

Hi JerseyWendy

I was hoping that messaging the advertiser and offering some advice would be more effective than simply having the advert removed...but after receiving his reply I think I'll figure out how to report his advert.

I'm just concerned because the advertiser claims to already have injured wildlife on his property and says: "I placed the ad to provide a place where some one who has found an injured bird could bring them and be assured they would be well cared for". I like to imagine the advertiser means well but what he's describing is something that already exists..It's called a sanctuary and my one is only two miles away from his registered address!!

(Oh, wow! Just realised I'm now a 'senior member'...I'm feeling old! ha-ha)

 

[Kisota]

Yeah, I would definitely see if there's a way to have that taken down.

In the US, keeping native birds at all (or even, actually, having their feathers/body parts) isn't legal. Sounds like it's fairly similar in the UK. People still do it sometimes, and often they have good intentions. This person, despite their completely repugnant personality, may have their heart in the right place regarding the animals (or they may be a self-important twit, who knows).

But yeah, that is for sure something that should be left up to licensed people and professionals. It's a very strange thing for someone to advertise for, especially when they live right next to a rescue! It's very weird. And it's really not in the animals' best interests to have some rando dude competing for birds with a local sanctuary.

 

[Kitty]

Thanks Kisota

Unfortunately, sometimes animal sanctuaries are too full to take in more wildlife, in this case my heart goes out to the members of the public who take it upon themselves to do what they can for an injured animal even if it means breaking the law...But this issue is just crazy...We have plenty of animal charities willing to help and as well as my sanctuary there are several others within a 30 mile radius.

In my opinion this person (whether they understand it or not) is preventing injured wildlife from receiving the professional care they desperately require in their time of need.

 

[Kitty]

I've just reported the advert and claimed it was an animal welfare concern...When asked for more info regarding the report I said the advert was "not only breaking the classified ad website guidelines but it was illegal and an animal welfare concern." I also mentioned that I'd messaged the seller who has confirmed they don't own a licence and claim to already have wildlife on their property.

Now that I've reported the advert do you think the moderators of the website will investigate and call the RSPCA if necessary? Or do you think they'll just delete his advert?

PS: The advertiser just messaged back asking me exactly how I find their advert concerning....The adverts states "specialist vet nary care if needed"... The advertiser can't spell 'veterinary' never mind offering them specialist care! On top of everything else, this advert is misleading!
I'm trying to see the funny side of all this but to be honest I'm strongly considering calling the RSPCA myself... What do you think?

 

[JerseyWendy]

I would call the RSPCA. I wouldn't count on the moderators doing this at all. They will most likely just remove the advert and forget about it after that.

Before calling the RSPCA I'd copy and paste the advert AND any and all contact you had with this person as proof.

 

[Kitty]

Thanks JerseyWendy

I have the advertisers approximate address that's registered to the website and also have his contact details. I have saved all the messages and his advert. I will report the matter to the RSPCA because if this person has wild animals on his property they need to be released or receive some professional help.

 

[Kisota]

Good call, let us know how it goes!

 

[Terry57]

Kitty, I think you are absolutely doing the right thing. There is no way to know exactly what he is doing with the wildlife he has, and he may not have good intentions. I think it's wonderful that you are reporting him so that those animals can get the proper care. And kudos to you for all you do with your rescue

 

[Sterling1113]

I can identify with the poster(in a very very minor way..) that all they want is to "help" wild animals.
However advertising it to the public, and then berating a licensed professional when contacted and admitting to not having a licence/already having animals to try and "nullify" having one is just unreal! Who thinks that's okay?
I've rehabbed a couple of wild birds myself(Only very very minor, short term recoveries, who were released within a week. Usually just recovering from the shock of hitting a window and the shelter wouldn't take them because they're "nuisance" animals.) and I only did that because I'm a softy at heart and can't bear to leave an animal outside and let nature take it's course if I can help. Any abandoned/thrown babies were kept under a warm lamp until I could get them to a sanctuary, wouldn't even *try* to do something like that by myself.
I agree with your decision to report the person, and I'm hoping they take action. Hopefully(atleast) a seizure of the animals and then I don't know how they do it in the UK, but in the US if you're tagged with animal cruelty and aren't allowed to own animals officials will come by randomly to audit and make sure there's no animals on the property. Hopefully no extensive damage has been done to any of the birds.

 

[lucy1]

Hi Kisota, I love how much you care!!

RSPCA are a good starting point, but to be honest they've kind of lost their way and are only interested if there's some publicity in it for them... Given that he's committing criminal offences under the Wildlife Act, does your local police force have a wildlife unit? Ours used to but it got disbanded as part of collaboration (another false economy, don't get me started...) I know the officers who used to be on the team tho and can get some advice if you like?

 

[BACON]

This so called 'bird carer' wouldn't be Eastern European would he?? The fact he is asking for injured birds, which I'm sure people would bring him..... Could mean he's not got to get caught trapping!!!.. Which would be a massive offence with prison terms involved etc. basically it wonder if these bird end up either as pets..... ORRRRR on the tables of Eastern European countries??? A horrible thought but as he's not trapping... He can appear as a helpful, kind person helping injured birds instead!!!!

Just thinking outside the box!!!!! Seems a weird thing to ask for that's all.

 

[goalerjones]

You could call the RCMP. I doubt they would be able to help, but having someone dressed like Dudley Doo-Right come to your door would be fun.

 

[Betrisher]

ROTFLMAO, gaolerjones! That made me spit coffee!

I loved Dudley Do-Right! (But I loved Snidely Whiplash more)

 

[Terry57]

Kitty, were you able to talk to anyone about this?

 

[Mekaisto]

.
Oh dear, sometimes well-meaning people just do more harm than good!

We had a case a few years ago where someone brought in a bird that was missing both feet. When we asked what happened to it, the woman told us that her cat had caught the bird, mauled both feet to beyond recognition, so she did a home amputation!
Needless the say the bird was in incredible pain and had to be euthanised.

As a rehabilitator, I'm sure you're quite familiar with the 'abandoned baby bird epidemic' that seems to be happening.
People tend to find baby birds in nests or walking around by themselves, and assume that they need 'saving'. Often people will talk about how much trouble they had getting the bird into a carrier - it would try to run or fly away, and sometimes other birds (the parents) would attack!

I'm not sure if the man who put up the advert is actually trying to rehabilitate birds, or just wants to keep them as 'pets', but either way he is breaking the law, and should be reported. Rehabilitating birds or any other animal is not as simple as just putting them in a cage and feeding them dog food.
.