Goldfinch -help!

[cara pace]

Hi Lily,
Hope you manage to sort something out with the bird. While it's still with you, it may be a good idea to swap the straw for some paper as it can potentially cause problems with aspergillosis.
It's a shame the vets weren't any more help. If you don't manage to get hold of a rescue centre, it may be worth asking your local vets to take a look anyway - in case there's an injury you may have missed and it may need antibiotics - time is really of the essence. If you have the time, could you care for the bird? If it's feeding itself and drinking, it may not need to stay for too long.
Tiggywinkles will give you more advice if you ring them.

[Lily]

Is shredded newspaper okay Cara?
I'm afraid I'm leaving to visit my mother for a week on monday otherwise I'd happily look after it.
I'll try the vets again and ask.

[Chas]

I am pleased that you really do care about the bird and I do applaud you in seeking help. Please do not think that I am some kind of "nut-case". I just think it is time something is done about the appalling slaughter. I agree that if it is your cat you may have a different angle but it is still terribly sad that such an impact is made on wild birds in this country by domestic cats. A sensible debate is what is needed. Cats are here to stay and we should try and find a way of stopping it, or at least change the way it is accepted. There are lots of ways that it could be controlled but cat owners just would not accept them.
Just ponder this. In Malta hundreds of birds are slaughtered by hunters every spring. We, in the UK make an almighty fuss and send people to protect these birds from death. In the UK hundreds of thousands of birds are taken by domestic cats and yet we turn a blind eye to this and conveniently say that it is natural behaviour. Surely knowing that it is natural behaviour should mean that we take firmer action to control it. I hope this one individual Goldfinch survives, it will just be one of the lucky ones because today 100's of others will be taken.

[Lily]

I understand wholeheartedly where you are coming from Chas and in a debate I'd probably be on your side however I was just a little short as I only came here to ask advice on this bird not to get into ethics.

I've phoned another vets who were far more helpful. They gave me another number to ring but said they'd take the bird if this other place isn't able to help. So by the end of the day hopefully it will be being looked after somewhere with the proper facilities.

Thanks for your help guys, I'll keep you updated.

[Inachis io]

Glad that you seem to be getting nearer to finding some help for the little guy. Good luck! As a cat owner and all round animal lover I can understand how you must be feeling.

Chas - Glad to see you're not a 'nut case', most responsible cat owners will do everything in their power to ensure that they don't have a damaging impact on our wildlife. I'm an avid twitcher but will always go looking for them as opposed to encouraging them into my garden as I know that all hell may break loose as soon as my cats are allowed out. I agree that some cat owners couldn't give two hoots about what their animals get up to, but hopefully you'll understand that if we're on here we're likely to always take the best precautions.

[cara pace]

Newspaper is fine Lily, you don't need to shred it.
Glad the other vets have been more helpful.

[posie]

..Hi Chas, I too understand where you are coming from, it's just that I don't think it helps the cause by being cutting/scathing/unkind etc to Newbies, or not-so-Newbies, it just drives them away, how does that help? Your passion and energy regarding the cat/birds situation is commendable, as is Jim's (Ford) and others, but the way to use those energies and passions is not to take it out on inviduals seeking help...and I cannot see that it is good for WAB to get the reputation ref Newbies that IS developing in other places ...Regards..Posie..

[Lily]

Bad news. I took the bird to the vets today and they rang me just now to say that the bird did have a fracture to it's wing so it had to be euthanized. =(
Thanks for all your help anyway guys.

[faz]

sorry ti hear that lilly well done for what u did to save the goldfinch and welcome to WAB

[posie]

Sorry to hear that too Lily...Posie....