Dr. Cliff Redford, DVM, or Dr. Cliff as he’s higher identified, is a affected person and household favourite in Ontario, Canada. He owns Wellington Veterinary Hospital in Markham, however his work with animals doesn’t cease there. Animal advocacy and rescue missions have taken him to India, Egypt, Jamaica, and Ukraine.
Nearer to house, Dr. Cliff additionally supplies medical care to the wildlife of Ontario and to at least one Bald Eagle; he’s a hero. And that’s one thing particular as a result of, as apex predators, eagles aren’t eager on people. That meant each time Dr. Cliff had to offer look after her damaged wing; he needed to watch his fingers as this noble hen remained each bit the wild spirit even when down and out.
Although he stayed clear by way of therapy, Wolf obtained Dr. Cliff one good time earlier than she took to the sky once more. And like every good animal caregiver, Dr. Cliff laughed as he waved goodbye.
Bald Eagle Downed By Accident
Wolf, the Bald Eagle, got here into the Wellington Veterinary Hospital with Cathy of Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge after hunters introduced her to the rehab facility in Ontario.
“Some duck hunters unintentionally shot it when it flew after the geese they had been aiming for,” Dr. Cliff explained. “The eagle crashed into the bottom and broke its humerus bone.”
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The identical hunters who shot her had been those who introduced her in for assist. And with out their concern, Wolf would have definitely been doomed. X-rays confirmed not solely the damaged bone but in addition a separation of the flight muscle tissue. She wanted surgical procedure, and Dr. Cliff was assured he might appropriate the break with pins. The surgical procedure proved profitable, however tugging the robust flight muscle tissue into line was powerful, particularly when anesthesia was proving to be a difficulty.
“The tube is falling out. You may solely slide that anesthetic tube in just a bit bit in birds, very totally different from cats and canine the place you’ll be able to put it approach far down the trachea,” said Dr. Cliff. “The massive concern is that this factor retains eager to get up, and it really did get up very briefly once we had been plucking the feathers.”
However with Cathy serving to, everybody managed to make it by way of with out getting bit by the testy hen on the desk.
Six Weeks Rehabbing An Apex Predator
Whereas anybody can be just a little testy with a damaged wing, Wolf proved to be “not a compliant affected person in any respect,” biting at anybody who dared come close to. However as Dr. Cliff stated, “That’s a great signal.”
Three weeks into her restoration, Dr. Cliff eliminated the pins from Wolf’s wing, and she or he continued to develop stronger.
After only a few extra weeks of recuperation time and wing strengthening, the time got here for take a look at flights.
The exams proved Wolf’s wing was healed, and she or he was able to return to the sky, with Dr. Cliff sharing in a Dodo video, “It was a chilly, wintery day, and we took her out onto the frozen Niagara River. Proper earlier than letting her unfastened, I made a decision to present one final little examination on her.”
And as Dr. Cliff gave her one final lookover, wild Wolf delivered a chew to the doc’s hand as her particular approach of claiming goodbye. Dr. Cliff laughed it off, and Cathy joked Wolf remembered simply who Dr. Cliff was! However that nip was a great sign that Wolf had retained her wild spirit and was able to fly free once more.
“With a couple of flaps, she was up within the excessive blue yonder, hovering round, and there was virtually a tear to my eye. It was a fairly magical second. I’ll always remember her.”
Even now, Dr. Cliff shared, “At any time when I see one flying overhead, I wave…I’m certain it’s her coming to say hello.”
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Characteristic Picture: @drcliffworldwidevet/Instagram
