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A very important blog about Life

6/27/2011

2 Comments

 
The usual blog must be postponed as we have a critical situation that requires immediate attention. You may remember the little Barn Owl by the Pepsi can.
Picture
He appears to be dancing but his left leg is deformed from a fall. The x-rays reveal a dislocated knee and fractures in 2 places. The fall from the barn rafters had a severe impact on his soft bones.
He has been progressing well. Appetite is superb and growth is consistent with his age.
He may never see the wild again
unless surgical intervention takes place.

Picture
In this picture you can see the deformity of the leg. The index finger is behind the knee. From the knee move downward toward the thumb. Notice how the foot is not in alignment with rest of the leg. There is full function of the foot so the nerves were not damaged.
This picture was taken prior to the first intervention by Dr. Gardner.
The Barnie was carefully anesthetised so the leg would relax. Dr. Gardner then wrapped the leg using a specially designed splint she developed for this particular case.
We were hoping for complete realignment and healing of all fractures.
June 26 we excitedly removed the splints. The knee and one fracture healed. The other fracture did not.


Picture
Waking up fom anesthesia(oh wow!) This little guy is a good candidate for a proceedure called external fixation. It requires putting surgical steel pins through the bones and using an external unit to keep the pins positioned until they heal completely. This is his last best hope.

Why is so much effort going into one little owl? Barn Owls are rarely seen yet we know they are out there. Their numbers have been dwindling. This little guy came from a barn near Meansville, Ga. There are 2 younger siblings still in the nest in the rafters of the barn. If we can get this leg repaired we may still be able to get him back with his siblings and they can all fledge. This a very rare opportunity to get one of these youngsters back in the wild. Best of all this farm is in a perfect location for Barn Owls to thrive.
Well you ask yourself "what has this to do with me?" He needs your help. We need your help to get this procedure done. A ball park figure for this procedure is around $400.00-$500.00. Our wildlife has no insurance policies, only us. This summer we have been so overrun with juvenile Redtails, Red Shoulders, Owls, and vultures our resources have been depleted. We need your help. 
We have a very narrow window of opportunity to get this procedure done. if you can spare $10, $20 or even more we need it.
Send your tax deductible checks to: Bubba and Friends, Inc.
                                                    PO Box 103
                                                    Zebulon, Ga. 30295
Or to donate electronically: laurenswildliferescueinc.org. Specify your  donation is for "Barnie". Since we do not have paypal yet LWR has agreed to accept donations on our behalf.
                                  
 
Picture
This picture was taken June 27.You can set the leg sticking outsideways. Oops we interupted his dinner!
Picture
He has a chance to rejoin his family. Won't you help? It may be a hassle to write a check but think about the hassle basic movements are for him.
This is a Barn Family we rescued and relocated in 2001. It was very succesful because we all worked together.


Thank you for your time. I know the economy is tough and I hate to ask but we are so close, so close. A little from all of us can make a big difference.
2 Comments
joanne dibble
6/28/2011 01:40:01 am

steve, you got my $20 -
come first of the month!
these young ones heal so quickly, they are good candidates for intervention.
but you know all that...
good luck with the funding for that baby.
joanne

Reply
Lauren Holder
7/6/2011 10:17:09 pm

I saw your article in the Pike County Paper and fell in love with Barnie's sweet face. I graduated from Georgia Southern with a biology degree and ornithology was one of my favorite classes. I donated $20 electronically for Barnie. I hope you are able to collect enough money for his surgery! As a "biologist" and animal lover, it is so refreshing to know an organization such as this one exist in my hometown. Thank you for all your hard work and community education! Please keep us updated on Barnie's condition.
Lauren Holder

Reply



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