Late spring, early summer saw us attending more events to promote our work. Our new tombola stall has proved to be a hit with both young and old alike and the interest in our work in rescuing and rehabilitating battery hens has grown with each new stall we run. One subject that has repeatedly been raised is the new fad of Garden Centres selling hens as pets. We are completely opposed to this practice because the hens are far more likely to be bought on a whim, with little thought to their long-term care. We believe that Garden Centres should stick to what they are renowned for - selling plants - not pets. Another issue that concerns us is that of the suggestion that hens are 'as easy' to look after as rabbits. In our view, that is a worrying comparison because the lives of the majority of pet rabbits are hardly ideal. The latest figures, revealed in a Guardian article, show that a staggering 75% of rabbits in Britain are not being cared for properly - with 60% of rabbit owners admitting that they were unaware that rabbits were intelligent, social animals that needed mental stimulation. Based on those figures, and the clear lack of
Peppa Pig visits the PAWING
stall at the Alcester Nursery
Studio Fete
understanding of an animal's needs, the suggestion that chickens are as easy to keep as rabbits is indeed a worrying one! We don't, for one second, want to put any potential rescue hen owner off having them - and we are far from suggesting that hens are difficult to keep. What we are saying though, is that, with ANY animal it is important to do your homework first. Ask yourself if you have the necessary space, do you have the time, do you know what common illnesses hens suffer, do you have a poultry friendly vet - and can you afford vet costs? Hens are fabulous creatures, and to watch a scraggy 'worn out hen' grow new feathers, put on weight and grow in confidence is massively reward-
ing. Conversely, there is no worse feeling than discovering that your hen is dying becuase of an illness you were unaware existed (for example - some owners have been mystified by how pale their hens have become and then been astonished to find them dead after a relatively short time. Many of these owners were completely unaware that their hens were suffering from the dreadful effects of redmite - many others were unaware that redmite even existed!). In short, as a rescue, our advice to anyone who wants to provide a home for any animal is this: Research the needs of the animal first - talk to other owners and experts, join forums on the internet and consider the costs of veterinary and maintenance items. Finally, always adopt an animal from a rescue rather than buying from a breeder.
for - selling plants -
not pets
Thanks to the kind donations of our valuable supporters, the new extension is almost finished! In late April work began to remove two of the three hen houses and runs with a view to making the original run bigger. Several delays due to funds drying up and the weather NOT drying up hindered progress which means that we only have only reached this stage now rather than the start of June as first planned. Within the new extended run there is another hen house plus a lockable weld mesh door which closes off the new hen house. This is a vital part of the whole coop because it allows new hens to get used to the existing flock - and vice versa, without risk of injuries which can be incurred when establishing a new pecking order. Many thanks to our kind supporters, and huge thanks to Mark who toiled well into darkness on some evenings to get the run to where it is today.
Sadly, funds are now at a critical level, which means that although the run is secure, we cannot afford the roofing materials we need to complete the run. If you can possibly help us with the purchase of the roofing, please consider helping us by making a donation. Thank you.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Cheryl Wheeler and Keith Trethowan for their lovely card and the kind donation of £20.00 towards our work. With the rising cost of feed and our all-too regular trips to the vet, the donation could not have come at a better time. Thank you so much.
PAWING can not help animals in need without public support. Please consider making a donation towards our animal rescue work today - thank you!
PAWING provides shelter, care and veterinary treatment for a small amount of unwanted/mistreated animals, and we also support any small charity that exists to directly and legally help animals and will work to raise funds not only for our own rescued creatures, but also for sanctuaries, groups and individuals by promoting appeals on our website. PAWING will help campaigns to help any animal in need by adding links to ongoing requests for help. PAWING supports vegan ethics and strives to promote the benefits of a vegan lifestyle. We depend entirely upon donations from the public.
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