Animal sanctuary in limbo as bird flu crisis deepens

UNCERTAINTY surrounds the future of the dale’s last remaining animal sanctuary after it was forced to close due to an outbreak of avian flu.
More than 400 birds were destroyed after the disease was identified at Wetheriggs Rescue and Conservation Centre, near Greta Bridge, on Monday, November 21.
The centre remains closed despite the cull and could stay shut for up to a year.
Owner Terry Bowes said the future for the remaining 400 animals is uncertain until information is received from Defra officers.
Until then the sanctuary has no way of generating cash to keep going, nor is it allowed to take in animals for rescue.
He said: “The way things are at the moment they are talking about it being a year.
“We’ve asked the question what would happen if we relocated because we haven’t got any birds now. They are now giving a risk assessment on every animal that we have got here to see what we would have to do if we were to move somewhere else.”
The centre generated cash through public donations during visits, taking animals for educational visits to schools and other places, and through special open days when the exotic animals barn was open to the public.
Mr Bowes said there had been tremendous support since the forced closure.
He added: “People have been great – we have this fighting fund and that has kept us going to the end of the year. But we can’t go on. I am loathe to give up because it is not just the animals of concern, it’s the volunteers.
“We have special needs volunteers who rely on Wetheriggs. There is so much at stake – it’s not just animals it’s people as well. It is just horrible – one of our special needs volunteers said to me, ‘Is it me, have I done something wrong’?.”
Mr Bowes thanked Barnard Castle mayor Cllr Rima Chatterjee who organised for the group to hold a charity stall at the weekly Wednesday market in the town, as well as at The Bowes Museum’s Christmas Market, and organisers of the town’s festive lights switch-on.
Various groups have also made donations, such as Colburn’s Kings Church, Glaxo Retirement Club, and even parish magazine The Flyer.
Mr Bowes said: “Thankfully, our main feed suppliers are really, good. They have said to me not to worry about the money, pay when you can.
“We will get some compensation – we don’t know how much. It will not be anywhere near what the birds were worth. It is taking a long time because there are so many cases.”
New streams of revenue include an artistic volunteer who is taking commissions to paint portraits of people’s pets and there are plans to create a book about the centre’s history. Mr Bowes is hoping people will offer advice on how to get it published and any other ideas they have about how to raise funds.
The closure also means the centre cannot carry out its core function – offering sanctuary to injured and homeless animals. Mr Bowes said: “We can’t take anything in.
“We had a major problem of cattle that were found on the A1 that we were asked by highways would we take them until they find out who they belong to – we couldn’t take them.
“This time of year, the weather being like it is, some of the hedgehogs are waking up because they are hungry and there is no way we can take them.”
Last year the centre took in a record number of hedgehogs, but fortunately they were all returned to the wild in October ahead of their hibernation season.
Mr Bowes concluded: “Obviously we are going to be running into the spring soon when we get loads of calls from people about baby animals that they have found. The knock on is going to be catastrophic – there aren’t any other rescue centres in the area.”
Anyone who can help should go to www.wetheriggs animalrescue.co.uk.