Update on our Churchill Blvd. great horned owl
Friday, February 10, 2012 by: Donna Hopper
As reported earlier this week by SooToday.com, a great horned owl took up residence in the backyard of Ruth and David Nicholson on Churchill Blvd.
A visiting wildlife photographer suspected the owl might be injured, so the Humane Society was called and our feathered friend was delivered to the Northland Animal Hospital on Trunk Road where it is currently recovering under the watchful eye of Dr. Craig.
Dr. Craig told us today that the first-year owl suffered some soft tissue damage to its left wing, but x-rays show no fractures or breaks.
However, the young owl is seriously emaciated and preliminary blood work delivered some concerning results.
"Sadly, about 40 percent of first years don't survive," he explained. "They just don't have the hunting skills to feed themselves."
Dr. Craig agreed that it was likely starvation that drove the owl to reportedly attack a small dog before nestling in on Churchill Blvd.
Northland Animal Hospital will be conducting further tests and will keep the animal until it is fully healed and healthy.
It will then be released into the wild.
Northland Animal Hospital is the only veterinary clinic in Sault Ste. Marie that cares for stray, ill, and injured wildlife and is fully licensed to do so by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Neither Dr. Craig nor the clinic receive any funding to pay for the care of these animals - all treatment costs are covered by Dr. Craig.
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Mr E 2/10/2012 4:57:47 PM ReportHe can afford it when he fleeces the rest of the Soo for animal care.
fergie 2/10/2012 6:38:58 PM ReportDr. Craig is an excellent vet, I have three dogs that he cares for. He charges no more than any other vet in the Sault. Obviously you are a patient of our American vets, and all the power to you. Maybe you should look into exactly why those prices are so much less...you know the saying...you get what you pay for.
old-cat33 2/10/2012 7:37:58 PM Reportfergie ..ferge: I agree with you there a hundred percent!
Blk.Rd.Vet.looks after my babies.Three dogs and an old puddy cat.
My secretary gave me a small dog (Lapso) and she had it vaccinated across the ditch.The little sweet heart developed the Parvo (I think that's how you spell it?) virus and had to be put down. So that made me think on that service.
Mr E 2/10/2012 8:42:49 PM ReportSorry no pets. But friends with them who get raped by our so called animal lovers.
Shlee 2/10/2012 9:28:25 PM ReportI think it's great that local people have had the opportunity to help this owl. What a fantastic bird!
dzdriver87 2/11/2012 7:29:10 AM ReportHey, "mr.E" I think you need to shut your mouth and quit running it about stuff you have no part of. If you have no pets and have no idea what goes on just hear say from your friends loud mouths, If they want to cry about "getting raped" as you put tell them to stop getting more animals. I think personally that your just jealous because this doctor does a lot more for the community animals them you do, it's people like you that drive our community's down with your negative attitude towards something as simple as the phrase "he does not accept any funding" he is an excellent doctor and people like you and your friends er will call them the "rape victims" need to either stop buying animals so that you have nothing to cry about or just deal with the fact that yeah he probally does make good money at what he does.
happymom 2/13/2012 8:16:05 PM ReportIt is true... you get what you pay for. Dr. Craig cared for my dog for over 13 years up until the point when I lost him last April. Dr. Craig and his staff always treated my dog and myself with nothing but compassion, honesty and integrity. In the future when time is right and I get my next dog, I will be returning to Dr Craig at Northland Animal Hospital. It speaks to Dr. Craig's character and his love of animals that he would give his own time and money to help wildlife in distress.
Note: Comments that appear on the site are not the opinion of SooToday.com. Keep discussions civil and on topic. Refrain from obscenity and don't post anything that your grandmother would be ashamed to read. Those who do not abide by these guidelines will have their membership revoked without notice. If you see an abusive post, please click the link beside the post to report it.
