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Specialised Sanctuary for Captive Bred Owls & Birds of Prey
With the Owl & Bird of Prey Pet Trade rapidly growing out of control UK wide! More Captive Bred Rescue Sanctuaries are needed to take in the unwanted & mistreated 'captive bred Owls & Birds of Prey'
For those who understand the true meaning of rehabilitation, people who get to meet us soon learn how passionate we are & that rehabilitation plays a key part to our birds lives & our charity's ethos. We enjoy sharing our work & passion with everyone, the younger generation for us are the important ones as these are the next generation of conservationists!
Rehabilitation can in some cases be a very long process that gives no timescale of fixing the root of the problem. It means you have to be very patient, dedicated & provide important stages of care to root out the problem. When cruelty cases such as the one below come forward, we never look backwards. We simple look to the future by working hard to offer the best possible support we can give, please read on & help where you can.
The below relates to a Cruelty Court Case, all 26 birds were placed in our care, video evidence below was shown in cour & in media.
Full News Story below plus video evidence was reported by main media outlets
A 68-year-old man who claimed to be running an animal rescue centre in Shropshire has escaped an immediate prison sentence after being found guilty of kicking and punching several birds of prey.
William MacKenzie was filmed by neighbours mistreating several protected species of owl at his Shrewsbury home over a two year period.
MacKenzie, of Boscobel Drive, Heath Farm, was eventually reported, which followed the birds being taken away from him on the 6th October 2011, on the same day all birds, 26 in total were transported and placed in the care of a well established Owl charity located in Gloucester.
On the 12th September 2012 William Mackenzie was finally found guilty of nine animal welfare charges and was handed a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for two years.
He was also given a lifetime ban from keeping any type of animal and ordered to wear an electronic tag for six months as well as pay £500 in costs.
During the two-day trial on the 11th and 12th September 2012, Shrewsbury Magistrates Court was shown video footage, filmed by neighbours, The video evidence showed MacKenzie striking and kicking several birds in his garden, including a Snowy Owl, an African Spotted Eagle Owl & a Barn Owl.
MacKenzie was also captured on video mowing his lawn next to a number of distressed Owls, whilst grabbing & throwing to one side like a rag doll on separate occasions a Barn Owl & a Tawny Owl.
Chairman of the magistrates’ bench Mrs Maxine Taplin, said: “There is clear evidence of suffering.” This he clearly denied after being showed the video evidence!
Following the verdict of Guilty, RSPCA inspector Dave McCartney said: “His behaviour is exaggerated by the fact that he was running a rescue centre supposedly caring for sick and injured birds. He was, in his own words, ‘experienced and knowledgeable’ and should have known what he was doing was wrong. “For some birds there was no escape. They were tethered when they were grabbed, punched & kicked.”
MacKenzie said it was his hobby to rescue birds which had been abandoned as pets or involved in road accidents. He was known to exhibit these birds at shows and events across Shropshire to raise money to support his interest
Video contains graphic footage supporting court evidence
All birds in this video are now loving life at the Barn Owl Centre
What you witness in this video is more common & widespread than you could imagine!
Reported by BBC News - Link)
Reported by Daily Mail Online (Link)
plus other media outlets
'Images below (TOP) shows the garden environment the birds were housed, the lower images gives an insight of a new life at the Barn Owl Centre'
 William MacKenzie about to punch a beautiful Snowy Owl |  Barn Owl being grabbed like a rag doll. Words from the Barn Owl Centre cannot describe this behaviour |  Barn Owl kept in disgusting conditions |  Hybrid Falcon, how can anyone keep a Bird of Prey like this! |  A Red Tailed Hawk kept in aweful conditions |
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