On CROW resignations
To the editor,
In 1968, Shirley Walter found an injured bird on the Sanibel Causeway. She took it home and nursed it back to health. So was born what became the Clinic for Rehabilitation Of Wildlife (CROW), a non-profit veterinary rehabilitation hospital . Forty-two years later, CROW treats 4,000 injured, sick and orphaned wildlife patients every year, representing over 160 different wildlife species.
In the past twelve years, since the arrival of staff veterinarian and clinic director Dr. PJ Deitschel, CROW has become known throughout the world. It has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s leading wildlife rehabilitation hospitals for native and migratory wildlife. It has done this with a professional and dedicated staff of two veterinarians, four rehabilitators and the unflagging efforts and devotion of its volunteers.
Unfortunately CROW has recently experienced internal conflict that has culminated in the resignation of Dr. PJ and one of its senior rehabilitators, Chastity “CAT” Turner. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, “To lose one staff member may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose more looks like carelessness.”
CROW has done outstanding work on behalf of injured wildlife over its 40-plus years in existence. It is my fervent wish that whatever conflicts caused these two resignations can be resolved for the good of remaining staff and their patients.
Frances Slane
Sanibel