Crime-hit bird centre receives £1,000 boost from care home
A falconry centre that was raided by thieves who stole eight birds has received a £1,000 cash boost.
Thieves targeted the Owl & Falconry Centre at Shipley and made off with eight valuable birds, estimated to be worth more than £8,000, earlier this month.
The raid has left the centre, which opened in 2012 at Halfpenny Green Vineyards and moved earlier this year, facing a struggle to stay afloat.
Now, Springfield House Care Home, in Codsall, has donated £1,000 to a fundraising appeal.
Stolen birds included a gyrfalcon, a pure saker falcon and a tribred falcon, while a burrowing owl was killed, seemingly following a struggle.
Following the theft, Karl Law, head keeper at the centre, made an appeal for donations to help keep it up and running.
Over the past two years, Mr Law has visited residents at the care home, keeping them entertained with animal displays and demonstrations.
And now care home chief executive Jeremy Richardson suggested that as a company, Brighterkind would pledge its support for keeping the home open.
Steph Grainger, home manager, said: "Karl and his team are now a part of the Springfield House community, bringing joy and wellbeing to all our residents.
"His visits have a hugely positive impact on our residents and the care teams who all helped to support Karl's centre. We are looking towards helping Karl return the centre to its prime, so everyone can enjoy what the Owl & Falconry Centre has to offer."
Of the eight birds taken from the centre, three alone were estimated to be worth £7,000.
Thieves also made off with two barn owls and three Bantam chickens.
Following the raid, empty enclosures were left at the site with feathers strewn across the floors.
The total estimated damage at the site – at the rear of Gardenlands Garden and Leisure off the Bridgnorth Road – is £8,200.
Mr Law added: "My team and I are so grateful for this donation which will go some way to helping us continue the work we do and visit places like Springfield House that always welcome us so warmly."
The centre has a total 36 volunteers and does a lot of work with disabled groups in the community.
As well as running daily displays, it offers handling courses and carries out off-site visits to show off its birds.
It is thought the thieves accessed the site via fields at the back as no images of the culprits have been captured on the front-facing cameras.
Anyone with information is asked to call Staffordshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.