Something to crow about
The numbers speak for themselves:
The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Sanibel treated 5,046 animals last year — everything from mammals and birds to reptiles and even a few amphibians.
This year, CROW has admitted 1,597 patients to date, including a little guy whose puppy face and heavily wrapped limbs tell the story of its mission — to save orphaned and injured wildlife.
The as-yet-nameless coyote pup (we’re sure someone’s going to name her, officially or not) was struck by a vehicle on May 8 and transported by a Cape Coral police officer to a CROW partner. It was then taken to CROW’s internationally renowned teaching hospital and clinic on Sanibel.
The critically injured pup, about 7 weeks old, received “intensive emergency treatment” for head injuries and a broken leg and is facing possible surgery.
There are a number of rescue-related organizations in Southwest Florida that do good work and CROW is certainly among them.
In an average year, CROW treats nearly 6,000 patients at its 4,800-square-foot hospital on Sanibel. The facility includes an intensive care unit, a surgical suite, lab and radiology centers, and neonatal unit for baby mammals and birds, as well as rooms for recovery or isolation.
CROW also has a rehabilitative center and outdoor enclosures as its goal is treatment and release.
It’s also a learning center, drawing veterinary students worldwide for its internships.
How does CROW finance its good work?
Like virtually all local nonprofits, it does so through the help of volunteers, fundraising, grants and — this is key — donations and bequests.
Right now, donations to help with the cost of caring for the coyote pup are urgently needed, CROW officials said. An emergency donation fund has been set up at giving.gofundme.com.
Information on how to help with one-time, monthly, memorial bequests or vehicle donations may be found at crowclinic.org/support-crow/.
Information on volunteering opportunities may be found at crowclinic.org.
If animal welfare is on your giving agenda, we urge you to take part.
— Island Reporter editorial