WAGS on WATER

02/07/2025

How nice to walk in typical English weather, 22C a bit of a breeze and damp from earlier rain. Totally contrast to the last few days. It got me thinking. Whilst I could get a nice cold drink from the fridge, what about the wildlife?

02/07/2025

WOOF ALERT: This exceptional weather is causing chaos with fledglings of all types, but particularly gull chick's.

Herring Gulls are a protected species. Because their natural nesting sites have been destroyed and their natural food source depleted, they are now having to do the best they can, when rearing babies. They nest on roofs in urban areas.

Those roofs have been getting really really hot recently. They are sitting under the glaring sun with no shelter and they get dehydrated and fall off, landing in gardens and carparks. Disorientated they try to find their parents and food. They are totally vulnerable and needing help.

How can you help if you find one? Don't panic! First if you can, put it back on a roof, near to nest. You can get some fish based kitten food and place in a shallow dish with a little water added. Hopefully the parents are still nearby and will continue feeding it, but you are the back up if they leave it. Feed 3 x times a day if needed. Keep your interactions to a minimum, so the chick doesn't imprint on you. The older chicks will have their full feathers and will leave unaided. If it's still fluffy and you can't leave it where it is, because of risks, please contact me or a rescue to take it. It really helps if folk can deliver the chick, because rescues will be busy and I am caring for other animals onboard the barge.

If the parents leave and you think the chick is at risk or injured, you need to act! To catch a herring gull chick, please use a towel and throw it over the chick, scoop it up and pop it in a box. They do try to peck, so watch your hands. Once in the box, keep it somewhere quiet and then transport to your nearest vet. The vet will check and treat the chick for free and may even contact a rescue for you. Not all vets PTS healthy wildlife, many go above and beyond to help.

Rescues are under extreme pressure. Please only call a rescue if it's totally necessary. You can play a valuable part in saving this species. You just need to put your brave boots on and have a go. Thankyou for reading this post to the end. Good luck. 😊

02/07/2025

The lovely Dionne has a unique canine gift idea for anyone getting ready for Christmas. Check it out!

30 min photoshoot in the studio, using up to 3 different Christmas set ups. Maximum of 2 dogs unless discussed beforehand . Includes 2 digital images of your choice with option to purchase more.

02/07/2025

There were three in the bed and the little one said...

02/07/2025

Last night some lovely people brought a gull chick to me. It had fallen off a roof and there was the suspicion it had also been hit by a car.

On arrival it was limping but otherwise looking OK. It ate some food at 10.45 and I went to bed not overly worried. Sadly overnight this little one died.

It's hard when this happens. After all the efforts of the 4 people involved in catching it, looking for help all evening and driving across Ipswich to deliver it here, we didn't get a happy outcome. This little gull was named Fushia (after the road she was found in) and she mattered. RIP

01/07/2025

Well at least one crewmate is using the chill mats 🙄

01/07/2025

This mornings bathroom monitor is Captn Jack.

30/06/2025

Young Eric and Ernie are now Essex boys. Tonight I took them over the Suffolk border to Rosie at the wildlives rescue centre.

I got to see them settled into the gull creche and met a little one who immediately thought I was its mum. Sadly it had been kept as a pet and had imprinted on humans. Now it's with its own kind and has minimal contact with people, which is how it should be.

I'm now home and bloody shattered. It took too long to get home due to my right leg going on strike somewhere near Colchester. I had to hop around and swear at it, before the journey home could be continued. Not sure what the folks at the services thought, but hey ho...now for a glass of wine to celebrate two more lives given a chance to continue.

30/06/2025

SNAP!

30/06/2025

It's only been three weeks since Finley left the crew, but in these pics he looks so relaxed and settled, he could of been with Graham for a lifetime.

I ❤️ getting updates on my ex fosters. I can't change the world for all the lost and abandoned souls, but I can change the world for one dog at a time.