No stopping it
Cobequid Wildlife Centre carries on helping animals
In keeping with Dr. Helene VanDoninck’s wishes, animals are still receiving life-saving care at the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
VanDoninck, the veterinarian who founded the Hilden-based centre with her husband Murdo Messer, died in August, following a battle with cancer.
“Things are still going forward, but it’s different,” said Messer.
“We have four vets we reach out to if we have questions, and they’ll come and check on animals when needed. It’s working well so far.”
A steady, but not overwhelming, number of animals has been arriving. Spring is the busiest time at the centre, as many young animals are brought in.
“We got a young bald eagle Tuesday,” said Messer. “It was on the ground and couldn’t fly, and it was very thin.”
A hawk and a peregrine falcon, as well as some smaller birds, were also brought in during the past few days.
There are currently nine eagles recovering in the flight cage, but some will soon be released.
“Any time an animal comes in the instinctive reaction is to turn to Helene,” said Messer. “The centre, and the larger wildlife community, have experienced a big loss.
“She absolutely wanted this to keep going, and I’m happy it’s continuing in her absence. She created something very special. If it wasn’t here, and Hope for Wildlife wasn’t around, all these animals would be euthanized.”
The eagles in the large enclosure can be viewed via live cam at http://cwrc.net/cms2/ wp/2018/07/27/cwrc-live-cam/