Pigeon and Dove Rescue UK

Orlith · #1 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 11:00 AM

My website is still under construction but it has a list of wildlife hospitals and sanctuaries that will treat pigeons and doves and some information on recuing baby pigeons and doves: See Link Back

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Orlith

valleyforge · #2 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 11:15 AM

Hi Orlith and welcome to the WAB forum.

Sorry, but a link to Pigeon and Dove Rescue UK isn't obvious on the Yahoo page you provided the link to.

Orlith · #3 (**permalink**) 09-05-2010, 11:21 AM

OK, I will try again. I hope that this doesn't classify as spam, it is just that some sanctuaries don't deem pigeons to be worth treating except by euthanasia. Even a vet was furious with me for seeking help for a pigeon as a paying customer. She said she didn't believe in helping animals that other people were trying to kill.

Pigeon and Dove Rescue UK - Home

valleyforge · #4 (**permalink**) 09-05-2010, 02:24 PM

Hi again Orlith ... that link appears to work fine.

I see you have us listed already, but the info isn't entirely accurate.

For sure we provide long-term sanctuary for wood pigeons and doves, but also for feral pigeons too ... we've even had over the years a couple of racing pigeons with broken wings who were unreleasable.

We are not vets (although we have local veterinary support), but we can and do handle emergency first aid procedures for birds and mammals.

Your website promises to be a very useful resource and I wish you well with it ... I know how much effort and time goes into populating a site, because I never seem to have the time to do any much more to ours.

By the way ... the attitude shown by your vet is not that uncommon and certainly used to be the norm ... in fact it was one of the main reasons we got into wildlife rehabiltation in the first place, because we couldn't find anyone else prepared to help. I expect if you ask any long-established wildlife rescue organisation, they'll say much the same.

Thankfully though, attitudes to wildlife within the veterinary profession are generally much improved over what they were even just 10 years ago.

Pigeon feather · #5 (**permalink**) 09-05-2010, 09:32 PM

This is excellent news, I hope many more are built, pigeons are very misunderstood birds and deserve just as much help as any other wildlife, I have spent many years in the past when I worked for an animal hospital rescuing injured pigeons and hand rearing young pigeons that would otherwise have been put to sleep and in doing so learnt so much about them, I would love to build my own sanctuary for them and if I ever win the lottery it will be the first thing I do!

Orlith · #6 (**permalink**) 10-05-2010, 05:58 AM

Thank you Valley Forge and Pigeon Feather!

Valley Forge, thanks for the information, I have corrected your details

Orlith · #7 (**permalink**) 12-05-2010, 01:55 PM

Sadly, this week I have discovered that two centres on my list have closed.

The Three Owls Sanctuary in Manchester had to rehome all their permanent residents when the council changed their status to commercial on the basis that they classified them as a zoo.

Voluntary Bird and Wildlife rescue in Sheffield also had to close due to ill health. South Yorkshire Animal Rescue is taking birds and wildlife.

I have added the contact details to my list.

slimrbp · #8 (**permalink**) 12-05-2010, 03:46 PM

Thanks for the list Orlith, we have a female collared dove who visits our garden who has an injured leg. She seems to be coping well an has been feeding happily so with any luck will heal naturally (I certainly won't be able to catch her!).
It's good to know there are places to contact should she get any worse.

HedgehogRescue · #9 (**permalink**) 13-05-2010, 11:24 AM

Hi Orlith, where are you based? I notice you have Falklands on your list, they're my vet and they're fantastic. I've never seen a surgery so committed to animals; pets or otherwise.

You also have HART on the list. Be aware they are in the process of moving to Medstead which is off the A31 near to Winchester so you'll need to update your page when the move is completed.

Orlith · #10 (**permalink**) 14-05-2010, 10:50 AM

Thanks for the endorsement of Falklands , the surgery was recommended by someone in Newbury who has a pet pigeon, but it is good to know that her experience wasn't a one off. And I had forgotten all about HART moving! I will keep an eye on that, thanks.

I am in Norfolk, but since developing bird keeper's lung my main contribution has been to act as a facilitator (hence the website) and to provide transport when rescuers are unable to get a bird to a sanctuary or when they have been dropped off at veterinary surgeries - which reminds me that I was called out to a very compassionate surgery the other day to collect a collared dove and must add that one to the list!