n animal sanctuary is facing a race against time to protect hundreds of rescued cockerels.
The Maggie Fleming Animal Hospice near Dundrennan is desperate for someone to help build an enclosure for the birds to ensure they’re safe in a potential avian flu lockdown.
Hospice boss Alexis Fleming has had to launch the urgent SOS appeal after promises that the work would be done during the summer were broken.
And the situation reached crisis point on Monday when the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) declared an avian influenza protection zone across Great Britain, meaning birds have to be fenced in.
Alexis said: “The bird flu lockdown is going to start soon and I need to get these boys away before then.
“I don’t know if there’s an answer because everyone who can do it is booked up which is why I wanted it done over the summer.
“I really, really have to get this done. It’s ready to go, the money is there, the plans are there, it’s just getting someone to do the work.
“It’s not all of a sudden I’ve realised it has to be done, I’ve been trying all summer. It needs to be done as soon as possible.”
The hospice – believed to be the first in the world for animals – is home to more than 300 rescued cockerels as well as a number of other animals including cats, dogs, sheep and hens.
More than half the cockerels arrived at the centre earlier this year after being rescued from a hatchery in Lancashire where they were due to be killed after being mis-sexed.
However, the efforts of Alexis and her band of volunteers – which included five trips south of the border to rescue the birds – could be in vain if a new enclosure isn’t built.
Monday’s announcement from the APHA – which came following outbreaks of avian flu being detected in England – means strict biosecurity measures must be put in place to protect the birds from the disease.
Last winter, avian flu claimed the lives of thousands of barnacle geese along the Solway. If the disease is detected in Dumfries and Galloway again, it would mean birds having to be kept inside, with infected flocks culled.
Alexis said: “You don’t get any warning. I got a text at 12.30pm on Monday that as of noon, extra biosecurity measures have to be in place. They can say any time all birds have to be locked away.
“I’ve been getting texts all summer about this, it’s never gone away, but all of a sudden they can decide you have to lock them all away.
“I really need a fence built as soon as possible. The boys are right next to the road and people are going to pass thinking they are out.
“If I can at least get them behind a fence, everything else I can work around. A lot of the other stuff volunteers can do.
“It’s not a huge job, someone can probably do it in a couple of days, it’s just everyone’s so busy.
Anyone who can help can contact Alexis by ringing 07423 559921, emailing alexis@themaggiefleminganimalhospice.org.uk or looking for the Maggie Fleming Animal Hospice on Facebook.
