Pot-bellied pigs and farm animals are the creatures Ralphy’s Retreat Animal Sanctuary in Wyebridge usually works with.
But when volunteer Teresa Perry was out for a jog along Aberdeen Boulevard in Midland, she spotted an injured juvenile Canada goose near the road. She called Shannon Leguizamon, manager of Ralphy’s Retreat, who gave her a list of rescue agencies.
Perry made a connection with Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge in Pefferlaw but was told she had to safely capture and deliver the goose. The women put together a capture party June 17.
“None of us had ever participated in a goose rescue, so we were flying by the seat of our pants to do this,” Leguizamon said.
They tried for a couple of hours, but were unsuccessful.
In speaking with residents of the area, Leguizamon and Perry discovered the animal had been in people’s backyards and hanging around the water reservoir in the middle of the subdivision for a couple of weeks.
“It appeared to have a neurological issue. He was having trouble standing or walking straight. There were some abrasions to the neck and we couldn’t see any physical injuries,” Leguizamon said.
“It broke our hearts to hear that the goose was like this for weeks. I think it’s because people don’t have the knowledge.”
They also learned there was another juvenile goose with an injured leg.
“There were cuts on one leg,” Leguizamon said.
Five volunteers returned to the Aberdeen Boulevard neighbourhood Monday with food, blankets, and two crates.
“On Monday, we were really lucky because the goose was near Aberdeen. We put food out in front and I snuck behind him,” Leguizamon said.
The team used a pig board to block the goose from going back to the water, and Leguizamon threw a blanket over him.
“We were able to secure him quickly,” she said.
The smaller gosling was also close to the road but with his family. Using the board, volunteers were able to isolate it from the family and capture it using a small blanket.
The goslings were put in separate crates, and Perry took them to Shades of Hope for rehabilitation.
Leguizamon wants people to know there are options for injured or orphaned wildlife. Ralphy’s Retreat keeps a list of rescue groups.
Shades of Hope wildlife custodian Gail Lenters told MidlandToday the first juvenile had two broken legs. They are both splinted.
“We hope he will mend, but time will tell,” she said.
News of the second juvenile goose is not good.
“Unfortunately, he did not survive. The left foot was an old wound with dead tissue. The leg was highly infected and it had gone into its blood stream,” said Lenters.
The animal was medicated, so it wasn’t in pain, she said.
Ralphy’s Retreat is a registered not-for-profit corporation. It takes in injured, unwanted or neglected farm animals. More information is available by calling 705-817-3757 or visiting its website.
Shades of Hope is a registered charity that cares for injured orphaned wildlife. It is licensed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Canadian Wildlife Service. It is accredited by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario. More information is available by calling 705-437-4654 or visiting the Shades of Hope website.
