Another trip to Pawz Animal Rescue. This time with a Kittiwake chick and a Pigeon. The chick was really cold and was cupped in warm hands for the journey. The pigeon, an adult, was suffering with canker. Both birds will now get excellent care from Lynne and the team. It is always a hive of activity with volunteers helping to care for Hedgehogs, Pigeons, Gulls and much, much more. Pawz for Thought, an animal charity in Sunderland, was established 22 years ago in 2003. They began as a response to animal welfare issues in the North East and have since grown into a busy organization helping thousands of animals each year.
For my part I started about 6 years ago. Raising funds and the inevitable rescue run. There are countless birds in Newcastle and it is not unusual for one of them in need. Newcastle is home to the world’s most inland colony of breeding Kittiwakes, monitored annually by local ornithologist, Dan Turner. Since the 1960s, the River Tyne has supported the most inland breeding colony of kittiwakes in the world. Each spring, these pelagic gulls return to the Newcastle-Gateshead Quayside where they nest on buildings and structures, including the Tyne Bridge. The kittiwakes are now part of this iconic cityscape and a tourist attraction in their own right, enchanting not only naturalists but local people too.
Globally, kittiwakes are thought to have declined by around 40% since the 1970s and were added to the Birds of Conservation Concern Red List in 2015. This was followed by the species being uplisted from Least Concern to Vulnerable in 2017. In the UK, kittiwake numbers have plummeted, particularly in Orkney and Shetland where breeding birds have declined by 87% since 2000.
Contrary to declines elsewhere in the UK, Newcastle’s Kittiwakes are thriving with increasing numbers observed by local ornithologists each year. This means that not only are the Tyne kittiwakes a much-loved part of life in the city but an important colony worthy of protection.
https://www.nhsn.org.uk/tyne-kittiwakes/
The pigeon, like so many, was suffering from canker. Without treatment it would likely starve to death. Canker in pigeons, also known as trichomoniasis, is a disease caused by a microscopic parasite which primarily affects the digestive tract, specifically the mouth, throat, and crop, leading to difficulty swallowing, breathing, and eating. If left untreated, canker can be fatal, especially in young pigeons.
Some vets and even some wildlife rescue centres give up on canker too soon, deeming it to be too far advanced to treat. But stubborn rescuers who don’t give in easily have succeeded time and time again in bringing a pigeon back to complete health within two or three weeks.
https://www.pigeonrescue.sirtobyservices.com/commonailments-2/canker/
Pawz for Thought was founded in 2003 by Lynne and Kevin Henderson, driven by their deep concern for animal welfare issues in the North East. They began the charity from their home, personally taking in animals due to what they perceived as a lack of sufficient local animal welfare services at the time.
What started as a personal endeavor quickly grew due to overwhelming need. They began with a small number of animals, and as demand increased, so did their efforts. This growth led to them gaining charity status in 2007.
Over the years, Pawz for Thought expanded from operating solely out of the Hendersons’ home to acquiring their dedicated rescue centre at Howbridge House in Sunderland. This expansion significantly increased the number of animals they could care for and allowed them to formalize their operations. Their work evolved to include a wide variety of animals, not just cats and dogs, but also small animals, and a significant focus on injured or abandoned wildlife like pigeons, gulls, and hedgehogs.
A key part of their growth has been the increasing involvement of volunteers and the opening of charity shops, such as the one in Roker, to help fund their operations, reflecting strong community support. The emphasis has always been on rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming, with a strong commitment to providing high standards of care and finding suitable forever homes or releasing rehabilitated wildlife back into their natural habitats.
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