Tonya Shorts Torbay Bird Rescue

Hi, my name is Kate and I am setting up a go fund me page for a very kind woman in Torbay Tonya Short. She rescues and helps primarily pigeons, but is always unofficially on-call to give advice for any bird, that awful moment when you see a bird dying slowly and don't know what to do or god forbid it, you hit one by accident. She doesn't do it for donations, she rarely gets any! She actually gets abuse and trolls much of the time but she still keeps going! Earlier today (Sunday 21st January) she had to endure another horrible offensive alarming verbal attack which unnerved her and I am sure she will not mind me posting but still she marches on helping the birds! Tonya's words-

"So again this week had another issue with someone that brought a pigeon to me last year.

To cut a long story short the last time they contacted me was in August asking about the bird.

They then messaged me on Thursday and because I didn’t message them straight back they messaged on Friday saying that I was dishonest and if I wasn’t going to reply they would take steps to find out what was happening with ‘their’ bird.

A bit of the old Tonya came out and after I gave him what for he apologised.

So wanted to make a few things clear.

1. I am not on call. I work full time and have a family, so if you find a bird you need to bring it to me or meet me at a mutually agreed location. If I ask for it to be checked by a vet before it comes to me then that is what you need to do. I am busy as well and it is not my responsibility to come and collect it. I won’t be giving my address out any longer as the person above had my address which is my home and me and my family need to feel safe there.

2. They are not your bird any more than they are mine. I help them get better but you are not entitled to have them back. I will release them in an area that is best for the bird. If that is with you great but if not that is my decision.

3. I run a pigeon rescue. I will happily provide advice or contact details for other rescues for other wildlife if I can but I don’t take anything other than pigeons.

4. I fund this myself. Occasionally people that bring a bird donate but not very often. This is my rescue and I say how it is run. Don’t take my compassion as a weakness as it isnt. If you don’t treat me appropriately then I will refuse to deal with you.

Sorry to have to post this but it needs to be said."

She sounds deflated and so would we be if you help for free from the goodness of your heart and get not even a thanks

Now, you may think 'urgh pigeons- rats' but they don't steal your food, they are peaceful creatures, they withstand alot and deserve not to be in pain too. She actually does this off her own back, never asks for anything and has become somewhat of the miss Mrs Bird Dolittle, famous for just being kind. So, I am asking if anyone loves wildlife they donate even a few pound for the work she does for free which will go straight to her. We have a few outstanding people in the bay who do thankless tasks for nothing, for the homeless, for the mentally ill, but Tonya often gets overlooked caring for the birds when normal people like us do not know what to do when something bad happens, she is there.

Please donate small and show her we appreciate her and there are kind people still here

#bekind