News
Urgent Need for Financial Help
Eden has suffered an unprecedented amount of illness since the summer of 2011. Medical expenses for assessment, diagnosis and treatment of many animals has left us extremely short of money. We face ongoing costs for food, shelter, and the upkeep of the sanctuary. We have been unable to rescue any animals since the summer due to the costs of making life as comfortable as possible for the current residents. If you can help by donating money, building materials or veterinary care we would be most grateful. We thank you on behalf of the animals at Eden.
Jane
We are very sorry to have lost our dear friend Jane on 13th January 2012. Jane lived with us for 2 and a half years. We are unsure of her history but she arrived at Eden deeply frightened and mistrusting of humans. Many weeks passed before Jane and her friends would attempt to leave the safety of their house here. Jane was badly mutilated in the process of being debeaked; her top beak was cut almost to her nostrils and her bottom beak was also cut. This process is carried out without anaesthesia or pain relief and causes chronic pain and interference with eating and grooming. Jane eventually adjusted to life at Eden and gained trust in humans. She was one of the friendliest hens here; she was a mate of Matilda (RIP), Lucy and Claude, and along with them she was one of the first out the gate to free range every morning. She loved treats of bread, pasta, or banana and used to run to us with glee when we called her. Jane regularly hopped in our kitchen window and sat beside me as I worked. She died of peritonitis, a disease that causes a high rate of motality among hens in the egg production industry. It is caused by a malfunction in egg laying where the egg is laid internally or breaks internally causing severe infection. Jane suffered horribly with a swollen abdomen which compressed her intestines and lungs and interfered with her capacity to move, eat, or breath. Jane suffered and lost her life prematurely due to being genetically bred by humans to lay eggs in amounts that far exceed the two clutches she would have laid in the wild to hatch as chicks.
Happier Times: Jane (left) and Lucy spot Sany's Lunch
Lucinda
Lucinda was one of our three geese. She died of an aneurysm on 29th October 2011 aged two and a half years. Lucinda had a very gentle, quiet nature and she loved to spend time with the ducks. She was madly in love with an Aylesbury Drake named Charlie Chaplin who died a year previously. Lucinda was sister to Dorothy and Marjorie. We used to refer to them as the Geese Police because of their habit of patrolling the grounds of the sanctuary and honking loudly to warn strangers not to come too near. The three of them together were excellent protectors of the other animals, always screeching to stop a fight or an overly amorous male. Lucinda will be greatly missed.
Tommy's Surgery
Tommy is ten and a half years old. He is highly intelligent, inquisitive and very loving. He has squamous cell carcinoma, a skin cancer very common in white cats. He had partial ear amputations a year and a half ago and further surgery just before Christmas 2011. This will not extend his life but seems to have been successful in giving him pain relief. He is in much better form psychologially than he was prior to surgery and has somewhat more energy. We hope that his quality of life will be good enough for him to continue to experience pleasure, fun and love for as long as possible.
Freeman: Rescued 6th June 2011. Died 9th September 2011
When Freeman, a Black Minorca Rooster, came to us he was unable to stand to due starvation and weakness. His feathers were greasy and dishevelled, and most of his tail feathers were missing. Freeman was the unfortunate victim of bullying by other hens and roosters. He seemed to fully regain his health; his comb became bright and upright, he integrated with the other hens and roosters during the day and slept in the house with them at night. Although he didn't have any special hen friends, he is tried hard and the others are tolerated him well.
Yet Freeman had an unsteadiness about him that worried us. It emerged that he had an underlying neurological condition. Unfortunately, he developed an infection which he was unable to fight even with treatment. We were very sorry to lose Freeman on 9th September 2011.
Freeman in Recovery
