NOV. 21, 2014
T he C oast News
B23
Animal care gets double help REGION — San Diego is becoming a safer community for orphaned and injured wildlife. Project Wildlife and San Diego Humane Society and SPCA has officially merged, united for a more humane San Diego. Integrating resources and expertise will work to ensure the continuity of saving injured wildlife such as raccoons, opposums and birds, from tiny hummingbirds to large raptors, such as owls and hawks. Since 1972, Project Wildlife has worked to save sick, injured and orphaned wildlife in San Diego County. Now, this community service is officially a program of San Diego Humane Society. For wildlife emergencies, or queries regarding orphaned, injured or ill wild animals, call, (619) 225-WILD (9453). Additional information about Project Wildlife or San Diego Humane Society can be found by visiting projectwildlife. org or sdhumane.org. “All animals matter, and we’ve always considered our partnership with Project Wildlife vital to providing care to all animals in need, not just those who are our home companions,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of San Diego Humane Society. “We’ve worked together for many years to transport injured animals and connect citizens with crucial wildlife services, so integrating our teams was a natural step.”
Earlier this year, Project Wildlife asked San Diego Humane Society to consider bringing their operations into the Humane Society fold to ensure the continuity of saving the most vulnerable animals in San Diego: injured wildlife. The organization had struggled to secure consistent funding for their lifesaving programs. In the busy baby-animal season, Project Wildlife can take in up to 300 injured or sick animals each week and, as the only local emergency trauma center for injured wildlife, they must always keep their doors open to these animals. Weitzman continues, “San Diego has the most diverse wildlife population in the United States, and Project Wildlife is the only pro-
vider to offer triage and rehabilitation for most of the species of wildlife in San Diego County, so the work we will continue is crucial for our community.” Frequently, the greatest need is to provide urgent care for orphaned babies who cannot survive without a mother to nurse and care for them. Triage center staff will be able to evaluate and treat injured wildlife for injuries, infections, or shock before determining a rehabilitation pathway leading to release back into the wild. Sometimes animals can be treated and returned to the wild quickly, whereas others require long-term rehabilitation from trained wildlife rehabilitation specialists to prepare them to survive on their own in the wild.
MOVE YOUR FEET BEFORE YOU EAT!
®
November 27, 2014 Thanksgiving Morning Civic Center to Pier Oceanside, CA
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! 2 Day Beachfront Health Expo 5 Mile Run through Harbor 5K Run/Walk with Awards for Local’s and Open Division Kids’ 1 Mile Races (7-12 yrs. of age) Kids’ 1/4 Mile Fun Run (6 yrs. and under)
Benefiting: Oceanside Schools and
•Custom medals for all finishers •D-tag timing •Backpacks to all participants 12 years & under •Teams Competition •Costume Contest •Gift Certificates from Dick’s Sporting Goods and Running Center for Age Group Awards
Thank you to our sponsors:
VIEW LAST YEAR’S VIDEO AT HomeLife Village Realtors
www.osideturkeytrot.com
Register online and check for event updates at
www.osideturkeytrot.com Information 760.434.5255
HOLIDAY CHEER GFWC Contemporary Women of North County, including, from left Kim Ashby, Sharon Siegried and Jackie Hoover, recently donated 200 holiday-quilted place mats to Meals-onWheels North County. The placemats will be included in a holiday basket made up specially for Meal-On-Wheels clients. They were made with a donation of holiday fabric strips from Quilter’s Paradise in San Marcos. For more information, visit cwonc.org Courtesy photo