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Original poster

Pigeon rescue- will the vets charge me?!

35 replies

Paie · 02/11/2018 17:55

Took a poorly looking pigeon to the vets today.
Had to fill in a few forms, and they asked me to ring tomorrow for an update and to maybe set him free.

Will I have to pay for this pigeons treatment ?! Stupidly didn't cross my mind to ask.

OP posts:
Finfintytint · 02/11/2018 18:00

Vets should treat any wild animal in distress but many don’t despite promising to. Ive had “we are not a charity” recently so you may be charged.

henhausfrau · 02/11/2018 18:01

I recently took a poorly hedgehog to the vet. They took my number and rang me a couple of days later so I could release him back where I had found him. No charge.

I think there is some sort of veterinary Hippocratic oath that means they have to treat injured (wild) animals?

henhausfrau · 02/11/2018 18:02

Shock finfinty

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SneakyGremlins · 02/11/2018 18:02

My vet doesn't charge for wild animals, they're good like that Smile

Shitlandpony · 02/11/2018 18:02

Yes they are meant to treat wildlife for free. Is there a wildlife hospital in the surrounding area that could help out?
Well done for helping it anyway, they feel pain just as much as the pretty pets people have in their homes .Flowers

SomeKnobend · 02/11/2018 18:04

No, they really shouldn't. I've taken in a baby pigeon, a hedgehog and a rabbit with myxomatosis and they never charged and we're really nice about it too, happy to help. It shows they really care. I never had to fill in any forms though, that's very odd.

InfantaSybilla · 02/11/2018 18:04

Hmm I took a bird to an animal rescue centre once it had admittedly been attacked by my cat but I was guilt tripped into giving them a £20 donation

planechocolate · 02/11/2018 18:05

What sort of pigeon was it? If it was a racing pigeon with a ring on its leg, then the owner might be very pleased to get it back and pay the bill. If it was a wood pigeon, then the vet might treat it for free, if it was a feral pigeon, then they are considered vermin, so it may have been curtains already.

Soubriquet · 02/11/2018 18:05

I’ve never been charged when I’ve taken in wildlife

I’ve taken in an infant hedgehog that needed pts. (I hand reared his brother but this one was severely injured)

I also took in a pigeon that I WAS going to have pts, but it passed in the way there

Shitlandpony · 02/11/2018 18:07

Oh yes I think it’s morally right to donate to a charity when it’s hrlping something your cat injured. I have been in that situation and it’s mortifying, luckily our new cat doesn’t hunt but I know our local one spends a lot of time and money looking after broken cat ‘toys’.

Original poster
Paie · 02/11/2018 18:35

Think it's just a wood pigeon? Only pic I have is attached.

My cats certainly didn't injure this pigeon, far too far away from home.

Will update on status of pigeon tomorrow Grin

Pigeon rescue- will the vets charge me?!
OP posts:
Shitlandpony · 02/11/2018 18:37

Oh no Paie, I didn’t mean that your cat did, sorry if it came across that way. I was just generally commenting about the donations to wildlife centres.
Hope pigeon survives.

DaysOfCurlySpencer · 02/11/2018 18:45

Yes looks like a Woodie (not 'just' a pigeon though, they are really very bright little creatures).

If he is injured please don't let him be PTS, there are rescues that take them and keep them in a safe environment. If you need to find one please send me a PM.

Vets are not supposed to charge for wild animals but some will often kill them rather than bother which is very wrong if they can be helped.

DaysOfCurlySpencer · 02/11/2018 18:48

BTW, pigeon will have a mate somewhere, they mate for life. A white patch on the back of the neck indicates maturity so more likely to have a mate looking for him/her.

Original poster
Paie · 02/11/2018 19:23

Vets asked me to ring tomorrow, and the form had a little box asking if it was okay to contact me, said yes ofc.

If they ask me to release him I'll take him to the same spot so hopefully will be reunited with his mate!

Fingers crossed!!

OP posts:
TheDodgyDunnyOfDoom · 02/11/2018 19:26

I've worked for vets since 1981 and in a lot of practices and I have never known any of my employers charge for stuff like this.

AlexaAmbidextra · 02/11/2018 20:43

My vet once told me that they don’t charge for people bringing in injured wildlife or strays as they wouldn’t want people to stop rescuing injured animals for fear of being charged.

InfantaSybilla · 02/11/2018 20:44

@Shitlandpony, I know and I do agree but I'd spent £30 return trip on a taxi to get to the rescue centre so was a bit miffed. My cat still brings me presents....

Shitlandpony · 02/11/2018 21:09

Ah but you did the right thing and can sleep well at night.
My soft Dh missed a really important business meeting to take an injured pigeon to the wildlife rescue. His mates laughed at him but I love him for that.

GoldenGumballs · 02/11/2018 21:36

No charge at big vets I work at. Part of oath to treat wildlife for free. We always give pigeons a chance no matter if fancy or common unless fatally wounded. Please continue taking injured beasties into vets to shorten suffering. Makes me renew faith in humans when they care enough to bring in.

GoldenGumballs · 02/11/2018 21:38

shitland (love the name!) My DH would do this and it’s a great tester to see what sort of man they are...ours are the best sort Grin

Zzz1234 · 02/11/2018 21:41

Took a rabbit (looked like a lost pet) into my vets, they cleaned his injured ear and scanned him, no charge (but they frequently charge me for my pet cats)

Athena51 · 02/11/2018 22:55

Good on you for helping him/her.

I rescued a pigeon from my chimney (had a cowl put on now to prevent further trapped bird issues). Local vet would have been happy to help for no charge as would local wildlife rescue.

As it was I looked after the rather stressed but uninjured pigeon over night and released him in the morning back to his feathery loved ones.

Here is my pigeon

Pigeon rescue- will the vets charge me?!
Letsgetreadytorumba · 02/11/2018 23:00

Oh look at its wee face, so cute

Jaimx86 · 02/11/2018 23:04

Following for the update tomorrow as I’ve rescued many injured pigeons.

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