An animal sanctuary boss is breathing a sigh of relief after an SOS call was answered – thanks to The News.
Alexis Fleming launched an appeal for help to build an enclosure for hundreds of rescued cockerels as the prospect of a major avian flu outbreak looms.
And, thanks to an article in last week’s News, Tongland-based Ian Smith from James Smith Fencing agreed to carry out the work at the Maggie Fleming Animal Hospice near Dundrennan, with one of their teams arriving on site on Monday.
Alexis said: “It’s a massive relief. I was worried but I was hopeful something would happen.
“I feel really lucky. The community is always so helpful.
“They’d already been out to give a quote but Ian Smith saw the article and said they’d really like to help, they’d shift things around and get started on Monday.
“Another fencing company in Lockerbie, GLS Fencing, said they were going to do it at cost, so thanks to them as they were going to shift things around.
“A few other folk have also been in touch and offered donations and help.”
Many of the cockerels Alexis is trying to protect were rescued from a Lancashire hatchery where they were facing death due to being mis-sexed.
Last week, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) declared the whole of Great Britain an avian influenza protection zone.
One of the strict criteria that must be met is that birds are fenced in.
Ian, from James Smith Fencing, said: “We’ve got quite a few teams that cover the area, so we were able to get one there quite quickly to help with their cockerels.
“We started on Monday and will be finished by the end of this week.
“We just thought we would help them out a little bit.
“They’re a charity and do a lot of fundraising, so we told them we’d supply the material at cost price and charge them the labour element to help them out a little bit.
“We’re pleased to be able to help them out at short notice.
“We’re just lucky we’ve got a few teams and were able to do that.”
