Wild Bird Veterinary Care in TBC area

[Dan McKie]

I want to inform TBC, & all my fellow birders, about a service I was completely unaware of until my recent experience with an injured barn owl. Since the RSPCA does not, I'm told, pay for veterinary treatment of injured/sick wild animals & most are "put to sleep", it was with some trepidation that I handed said owl over to them. He was taken to Jacqui Paterson's Vets, Preston Farm, nr. Stockton. When I rang for an update a few days later & the vet told me the bird might need a couple of weeks intensive care, I was relieved he was alive but also concerned about the cost of treatment. However, my fears were allayed; a couple of years ago this practice set up a charitable trust, a "Wildlife Fund" working alongside the RSPCA, Dogs Trust & a local cats orphanage. Check out their website for stories & photos of local casualties which they have treated/cured/released inc. a deformed swan, owl stuck up a chimney etc. Nice to know we have this facility on our doorstep & surely worthy of our support. Thanks, Dan.