September 2005

Total amount of visitors this month:  51                                  (total this year: 797)

GENERAL NEWS:

September 1^st:  we discovered the Pigeon (05-203; August 29^th from Mytiléne) dead in his cage. No P.M. was done. The yesterday rescued Jackdaw is transferred to the Crow-Aviary. From the leg of the Little Owl (05-151; July ’05 from Mória) which was hung on that leg, lots of dead tissue was removed. There is a part of the foot left, but only as a “club-foot” without any toes. Is taken-in again, because the foot must be treated everyday with Dermisol-cream. A phone-call from a Vet in Mytiléne > she will send some birds by coach. Three Dutch visitors in the morning. In the siesta a phone-call from a rep. from Travel-Agency Panatella: in a river lots of dieing birds and terrapins were discovered. We’re trying to reach some-one who can do something > at last we succeeded. Late in the afternoon we could re-home the “Peacock-pigeon” (05-099, June ’05). The new owner will come and take one of the Turkeys (05-167A; July ’05) as well.

September 2^nd:  the right rear-leg of the Puppy 05-204; August 30^th ’05) is starting to be more and more clean. The left rear-leg however has at least 2 toes which are “gone” > when the injury is more clean, we’ll have a look if amputation should be necessary. In the morning 1 Dutch visitor, who is living half of the year in Lisvóri. He had a kind of “Collie” is his car with severe scabies > medicines and advices were given (as well about transport to Holland). Not in the statistics. Taken-in a Chicken with digestion-problems. At 1.05 p.m. the Turkey (see yesterday) was handed-over and as well the disabled Rabbit (05-047; April ’05) was taken. The guy who took both has space enough for them.

September 3^rd:  unfortunately we had to put down the other Turkey (05-167B) > on several places on her body she developed huge bulbs with puss and after a day the maggots were coming out. Even a loss of function in one leg (heel-joint) was present. So the more’s the pity! By the Pigeon (05-200; August ’05) with the broken leg we could remove the splint and re-homed him/her in the Pigeon-Aviary in “The Keep” for the time being. The Collared Dove with the wing-fracture (05-196; August ’05) due to a cat-bite went to the Aviary for flying-practice. Late in the evening a phone-call from Mytiléne about a Pigeon.

September 4^th:  at least one of the three released Barn Owls (see August 11^th and hereafter) has chosen the free space above the Surgery as a sleeping-place. We don’t think the Rat- & Mouse-population will like this. At 5.55 a.m. we received a phone-call > our “friend” Násja will come with a little bird; caught by her cat. The thrown-away kitten “Sylvester” (05-134; June ’05) is this morning re-homed by a Dutch rep in Skála Kallonís. Five visitors this morning; 2 from Belgium and 3 from Bochum (Germany). Around 6 p.m. a Blue Tit was taken-in.

September 5^th:  the worst injured leg of the Puppy with the 2 injured rear-legs (05-204; August 30^th) is starting to be more and more clean. In the meantime the little one is walking and playing again, so we have hope. (see as well September 23^rd). The whole day (again) without water; for how long ?? At 1.15 p.m. a phone-call from a Vet in Kallonís > he is sending to us an Ostrich with a leg-fracture. The Pigeon, they phoned us about last Saturday, was brought-in tonight at 8.30 p.m.

September 6^th:  2 Greek visitors; 1 from our village and the other from Paris. Taken-in a Quail with a wing-fracture. In the afternoon a phone-call from the Island of Chíos about a Pigeon with severe Diarrhoea > advised in the direction of euthanasia . In the evening a phone-call from Mytiléne about again a Pigeon > will be send by coach tomorrow ??

September 7^th:  new tissue is growing on the legs of the Puppy . . . . ! The Brown Barn Owl (05-190; August 9^th ’05 from Tavári) is starting to eat on his own and is becoming more wild. So there is progress ! The 2 Little Owls we put in a special Aviary on August 27^th (to watch their flying-capacities) were brought back to “The Keep” > they can’t (yet) be released. In the evening a phone-call from Káto Trítos (Gulf of Géras) about (probably) a Barn Owl > we’re going tomorrow to pick-up the bird.

September 8^th:  we picked-up the Barn Owl from the junction main road – road to Géras. We were able to “re-home” 4 Pigeons from the Pigeon-Aviary in “The Keep”: 2 were born over there; the other two were 05-093 (May ’05, juvenile from Mytiléne) and the 05-102 (June ’05, broken wing, as well from Mytiléne).

September 9^th:  in the morning 2 Dutch visitors. The blind Tom-cat “Belly”  isn’t doing so well: probably there is brain-damage, because he is walking in circles all the time. The Pigeon, we were phoned about September 6^th, has arrived at last. At 5.45 p.m. the dog “Rex” (has been here last year as well; that time with some grown-in nails) > now he was severe bitten by other dogs (already some days ago). The examination was already quite difficult, but a treatment he refused complete. The only thing we were able to do was clipping (again) the grown-in nails. We advised the bringer to give the dog some good baths in the sea. Not in the statistics.

September 10^th:  early in the morning a phone-call from Mytiléne about . . . . . a Pigeon. This time it should be a leg-injury. Will be send by coach. Is picked-up by us (see by PIGEON nr 3).

September 11^th:  the shot Pigeon from yesterday (Pigeon nr 3) is still alive and is doing, especially in view of the injuries, quite well. The puppy with the leg-injuries (05-204; August 30^th > “Rísvi” , because he came from Arísvi)  has no bandage any more on the right rear-leg. The left one is improving as well. The leg of the hung Little Owl (see September 1^st) is starting to be more clean and there is an improvement in the blood-circulation over there. However, it will remain a club-foot. At the end of the morning 4 Greek visitors from Mytiléne. Around 6 p.m. two visitors from Belgium.

September 12^th:  the ex-Tom-Cat “Whity Κύκλοπας” (Whity Cyclops), 00-059; April 2000 from Mytiléne, was this morning vaccinated against Rabies and micro-chipped for re-homing in Holland. When he came in, he was hung, after one of the two different colored eyes was destroyed (“the Devil is in that animal”). Against midday two Dutch visitors. After 5 p.m. we discovered that both legs of the (by us discovered) Jackdaw (05-205; August 31^st ’05 in Mytiléne) are dieing-off !!

September 13^th:  a huge part of the day we were without water. 2 Dutch visitors > the ones who had reported on the bitch “Maria” (with the battery-acid-injuries) and had taken care for re-homing in Holland. Late in the evening the whole village was without electricity > quite embarrassing when one has to let out little puppies . .

September 14^th:  we discovered early this morning dead in the Aviary the House sparrow (05-140; June ’05 from  Ágia Paraskeví). Was transferred to that Aviary July 3^rd, but it showed to be a real “nest-misfit” > couldn’t fly one inch !  Two Dutch visitors this morning (those, who took the cat “Lóni” last year from here to Holland).

September 15^th:  in the morning 2 Dutch visitors. In the siesta a phone-call from Mytilíni about a Pigeon with a head-injury. They are going to try to send the bird by coach. In the evening a phone-call from the two visitors from the 13^th  > they have discovered a “problem-kitten” and are coming tomorrow to bring the poor soul.

September 16^th:  one visitor in the morning: a French Greek. In the afternoon 2 German visitors from München. We received the message that, due to the bad weather from last evening and night, the problem-cat has “disappeared” > so wait and see. About the injured pigeon we didn’t hear anything anymore.

September 17^th:  the Tom-Cat is brought this morning. The dead part of the wing of the Jackdaw (05-205; August 31^st)  came off today. At 9.15 p.m. a Collared Dove was brought-in > was discovered in the streets. The both trainees we were expecting couldn’t arrive due to technical problems in Athens.

September 18^th:  after 8.30 a.m. the two dead-beat trainees arrived. Olympic-Airways had offered them a hotel in Athens, but they arrived over there quite late in the night and besides a wedding was celebrated over there !During the morning-hours they both were guided around. Some phone-calls we received about doggies, people want to take with them to Germany and Holland. In the afternoon first an unknown birdie > we’ve send the picture to Holland to know what species it is. Later 2 dogs: one an about 4 months old male (is going to Holland tomorrow and the other a complete neglected male with severe skin-problems due to seeds etc in the fur > scissors were needed to remove a lot. Both dogs not in the statistics.

September 19^th:  a phone-call from Pétra about a gull with a broken (??) wing; was already some days over there, but was (evidently ??) difficult to catch.  Later again a phone-call about the same gull: a part of the wing had come-of pf itself, but the gull couldn’t be caught > end of history. Three Dutch visitors in the morning. Late in the afternoon a phone-call from a German woman > she had found an injured dog. Is passing-by tomorrow for a check-up. In the evening another call from an Austrian woman about another doggie they wanted to take with them > advices were given.  

September 20^th:  at 9.15 a.m. a hired car stopped and the announced dog was brought-in: was limping with the left rear-leg. Showed te be severe bitten and a huge hemorrhage was present in the left thigh. Because of the prognosis next winter for this elderly male (was discovered in Tárti and lots of hunters are coming over there!), we have supported the two ladies in their strive for giving this animal still some good years and referred them to the Agrotikí Stégi for micro-chipping, rabies vaccination and so on. Not in the statistics. The Austrian woman called again > they are taking that doggie with them, and “thank you so much for the advices”.

September 21^st:  due to a heavy thunderstorm (mostly hard thunderclaps and glaring flashings of lightning) some birds had te be removed early to their “sleeping-quarters”. After the siesta a Moldavian family as “visitors” > they came to choose a doggie !! In view of the education of the child (read: ill-bred, with all consequences for animals) we couldn’t come to an agreement. Of course not registered as visitors. In the evening several phone-calls with, and about a Dutch couple, who had the “pleasure” to see their rescued doggie (was thrown-away alive in a plastic bag! The doggie was already micro-chipped and vaccinated) being teared from their hands by an aggressive (and half-drunken) Greek, with the information that it was “his doggie”. The Greek even went to the Police! We have informed the “Animal-Lovers Society of Lesvos” about this case with the plea to take over! Everything seems to be alright now !

September 22^nd:  could we hardly use the computer yesterday, due to the thunderstorms, today there is a “water-stop”, so cleaning etc. is a bit difficult (e.g. the water bowls for the birds). After midday the water-supply was restored.

September 23^rd:  we already reported (September 5^th) about the healing-process of the leg of the puppy “Rísvi” , today we took another picture:

Except from a small deformation and as well a small loss of function, the leg is OK now.

September 24^th:  we started this day “good” being confronted with another “water-stop”. At 12.15 p.m. the water-supply was restored again.

September 25^th:  we started the working-day with the double surgery by the Tom-cat “Cherry” > see over there. Just after midday a whole Greek family (7 people) as visitors. Late in the afternoon 2 Dutch visitors.

September 26^th:  in the morning two Dutch visitors.

September 27^th:  due to the biting-activities of rats, we had to re-new a part of the electricity-system in the Zoökomeio. A phone-call was received from Glifáda about “our” Logger-head Turtle (05-101; June ’05): the last fish-hook (in the esophagus) is removed in the meantime and she will be released in the coming days with the name “Sandy”.

September 28^th:  after having practiced “dry” with stitching the day before yesterday, both trainees could practice today on a dead (shot) Rat. Were we still wondering on the 9^th if it was meaningful to keep alive the blind Tom-cat “Belly”, since a few days the situation has changed 180 degrees and is he reacting absolutely normal > is playing, running and so on. During the morning 2 Dutch visitors.

September 29^th:   in the morning 3 visitors from Huy (Belgium). In the evening a phone-call from Eloúnda (Crete) about an injured Barn Owl. They had discovered our number via contacts in Holland. We were able to give advices about treatment & feeding.

September 30^th:  around 11.30 a.m. a Greek (from Mólivos) arrived with a Setter-pup > the right eye was quite damaged. He had already visited a Vet in Kallonís, but came here for a second opinion (and as well with the question if the prescribed medicines were “fitting” for the eye-problem !! Such a confidence they have in their own Vets !) The eye must be removed in the future.

Kinds of animals who are mentioned like this were for the first time in treatment in the L.W.H.     

Amount of kilometers (Animal-Ambulance) for bringing-in/releasing animals this month 083 (total this year 2991 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 12 [wild ones: 09; others 03], (total this year 250 > : wild ones 146, others 104; total since the start of registration in 1996: 3204),  of which:

CHICKEN (Gallus gallus dom.): 1 from Ágia Paraskeví  > has digestion-problems > so observation. Went August 7^th in good condition back to its owner.

SEDGE WARBLER (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus): 1 from our village > was caught by a cat. Injuries on the back. (this species we had only once before, and that was still on the old location, in Thermís).

Discovered dead next morning.

BLUE TIT (Parus caeruleus): 1 from Ágia Paraskeví > shouldn’t be able to fly (well). Next morning released in perfect condition > was flying like a Hurricane.

EAST-AFRICAN OSTRICH (Struthio camelus molybd.): 1 juvenile from Parákoila > fracture of the left Tibia, just above the heel > we were able to splint.

PIGEON (Columba livia dom.): 3; the first was an adult from Mytiléne; has an (old?) problem with the right wing > observation. After further contemplation and doing of some tests it shows the bird had a (somewhat) hanging left wing. No old fractures and/or dislocations. Is transferred to the Pigeon-aviary in “The Keep” Sept. 14^th. The 2^nd came as well from Mytiléne and we can’t see exactly what’s wrong > in any case the right elbow is thicker > so observation as well. Was transferred as (lasting??) disabled to the Pigeon-aviary in “The Keep”. Number 3 was announced as “having a leg-injury” > wasn’t the case ! The bird was, sitting on a roost, shot with an air-gun from below > huge shot-hole in the breast (emptied, but no pellet was found) and a graze-injury on the left wing. Discovered dead the 12^th against midday. P.M.: the pellet (4,5 mm; pointed diabolic) was very deep and pressed against the esophagus > passage was impossible. Died, because the crop was overfilled and breathing was impossible.

QUAIL (Coturnix coturnix): 1 adult from Ágia Paraskeví > is rescued in any case out of the mouth of a cat > fracture right wing > hanging cast was given. There was another one, but that one didn’t survive the cat. Is transferred to the Aviary September 14^th; was flying perfect !!

BROWN BARN OWL (Tyto alba guttata): 1 female from Káto Trítos > “got lost” in olive-oil and is in a very bad condition (body-weight only 208 gram !). Had several huge ticks on the head and in one ear and feather-parasites as well.

At the 2^nd examination it showed she has had a “meeting” with a special kind of sticking-herb (named by the Greeks Πεθερές= Mothers-in-Law) > the tail couldn’t be used anymore (was “glued together”) and other parts of the feathering ware “glued together” as well.  Probably she came in contact with the olive-oil after the “mothers-in-law”. Is discovered dead the next day in the evening.

TOM CAT (Felis catus): 1 from Pétra > left eye is “gone” and has disappeared; has cat-flew and is bone-thin. Will have his treatment over here and will be “restored”. In the future the bringers will re-home him in Holland. Is named “Cherry”.

The 25^th  the eye is closed  and both “crown-jewels” were removed.

COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decacocto): 1 adult from Ágia Paraskeví > was “pushed into our hands” late in the evening > was discovered in the streets. By further inspection next morning showed to have a huge hole in the breast (air-gun-pellet). Was eating more and more difficult from September 20^th and was discovered laying on its back that same afternoon > couldn’t turn around anymore. So the prognosis isn’t so well anymore. Was discovered dead early in the morning of the 24^th. P.M. showed the pellet had perforated the sternum (lots of feathers were discovered in the “channel” ) and had ended in the crop. Herein we discovered a partly yellowish fluid; something that was repeated in the intestines (but as well in the abdomen). So the final cause of death was the secondary consequences of the lead-pellet (lead-poisoning). 

BIRDIE N.N. > discovered on the road from Kallonís to Pétra. Is injured on the right eye. Further examinations are coming in the direction of a SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata) and this name is confirmed by our Dutch contact for “difficult cases”.

Is released the 21^st around 8 a.m. in perfect condition.