CROW (Centre For Rehabilitation Of Wildlife) Experience Traumatic

I recently experienced something that I feel could have been better handled by CROW in Yellowwood Park, Durban, and I'm writing this review with the intention to bring my concerns to CROW leadership attention, but also to forewarn other well meaning people like me, that dealing with an animal rescue facility doesn't always mean it will be a pleasant experience, as mine was not.

One of this year's Egyptian geece gosling's had caught it's leg between the wooden deck floor features of a bridge in our Estate, and after not seeing an improvement in it's leg functionality after a week or so, we decided to capture the gosling and take it to CROW for a medical assessment, and hopeful treatment.

On arrival to CROW, the lady behind the reception area immediately took our box with the gosling in it, and we briefly explained what was wrong.

While it was being assessed in a different area to where we were, I was asked to sign a form, which I did fill in, but I chose not to sign, as it appeared to be some kind of release form, meaning that if I signed it, I would no longer have any "rights" or "say" over the gosling's ongoing welfare.

I specifically said to the receptionist that I was not going to sign the form, as I did not intend to leave the gosling with them long term, and I ultimately wanted to reunite it with it's family.

Within a short time, the same receptionist lady came back to the counter and said it appeared that the gosling had torn its tendon's in its injured leg. She said that CROW would offer to keep the gosling for the next 24 hours, and that it would be placed onto Cortizone treatment for pain.

She said that after 24 hours, it was possible that the gosling might however need to be humanely put to sleep, as its injury was such that it would probably not survive in the wild.

Despite the shocking news, I had no option but to accept the feedback, and I asked that if a decision was made to put it to sleep the following day, that I first be informed, before that happens, as I intended to ask for permission to be with it during it's time when it was put to sleep.

It seemed the lady was in agreement that I would be called the following day, and we left thinking that we had a mutual understanding on the way forward for at least the next 24 hours.

When I got home I called a friend I know, and relayed CROW's assessment, to which my friend said that they were doubtful that CROW would keep the bird alive for 24 hours, and they said that CROW had probably already put it to sleep, despite the verbal agreement I thought had been reached at CROW.

Concerned about the risk of the gosling being put to sleep without my knowledge, I called CROW back to inquire how the gosling was responding to it's planned treatment.

Sadly though, my friend's feedback was to be proven accurate, because when I called CROW later the same day that we dropped the gosling off with them, I was told that it had already been put to sleep.

I feel that my trust has been betrayed by CROW, in the most unkind, disrespectful way, and I feel the complete opposite of how I think I should feel after dealing with an organisation that promotes one kind of reality, but then delivers a different, colder, harsher one instead.

Whilst I'm well aware that sadly our little gosling would not have lived a quality life given the severity of it's leg injury, and that yes, as painful as it is to agree to this, that putting it to sleep was the humane choice for it, I still feel that CROW had an obligation to first talk to me before putting it to sleep.

I also feel that it would have been appropriate for us to be present during it's initial assessment, and that whoever did the assessment, that that person should have introduced themselves to us, and allowed us to see the assessment take place, while they explained the prognosis and diagnosis.

I have come away from this experience with CROW feeling hurt, disrespected and somewhat traumatised. I don't think I'll be as trusting with CROW again.