Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett

THANK you to all readers who gave presents to their local animal rescue centre for Christmas. The National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) centre near Watford filmed a wonderful video of the animals being given their gifts on Christmas Day. If they had chosen the presents themselves, they couldn’t have looked more pleased.

On second thoughts, maybe the animals at Watford had been following the example of one of the residents at Trindledown, their sister centre in Berkshire, where a parrot has been ordering his own presents.

It began in November 2017, when a stray African Grey parrot came into the care of Trindle- down, a NAWT retirement home for animals.

Despite all attempts to find his owner, they could not be found and, while he waited, the parrot, Rocco, lived in a room next to the centre manager, Tracy Waldron.

It soon became apparent that Rocco swore. Tracy says he would only swear when no one else was in the room or, if you were in the room, when you were on the phone – and it was bad swearing. Because of the risk of offending callers, it was decided Rocco should live with a member of staff where he then stepped up a gear.

One day his carer came home to find music playing and realised Rocco had learnt how to speak to the virtual assistant, Alexa, to play music and order shopping such as strawberries and ice cream. She now has to check Alexa to see what Rocco’s been up to.

Fortunately, the NAWT know how to take good care of Rocco.

Now back to the NAWT centre at Watford, where the gorgeous Benjamin is waiting for a home.

If rabbits could speak to Alexa, no doubt one of the first things any rabbit would ask for, is an exercise run. Remember that, as the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund say “a hutch is not enough”. The minimum space a rabbit should have is 10 feet by 6 feet with a height of 3 feet.

For details of what would be on a rabbit’s wish list see rabbitwelfare.co.uk.

If you can offer Benjamin a loving home, preferably with a friendly neutered female rabbit, he’s waiting at the NAWT rehoming centre, Tylers Way, Watford by Pass WD25 8WT.