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Sheffield's Pigeon Lady Fights Brutal 'Stringfoot'
4 Oct
Summary
- Volunteers rescue injured birds, receiving up to 10 calls per hour.
- Litter causes 'stringfoot,' leading to severe injuries and limb loss.
- A duck named Trevor was rescued from a canal and now lives in a sanctuary.
Vicky Prest, known as Sheffield's pigeon lady, is a dedicated volunteer for Sheffield Stringfoot Pigeons and Bird Rescue. The group, operating via Facebook, manages an intensive workload, responding to as many as 10 calls per hour to assist injured birds. Volunteers like Prest are dispatched to treat common ailments such as "stringfoot," a condition exacerbated by litter, which can result in the loss of toes or entire limbs.
Prest actively organizes "Stringfoot Sundays" to train volunteers in safely handling and treating pigeons. She also takes on the crucial role of rescuing and transporting distressed birds. Reflecting on a particularly challenging rescue, Prest recounted saving a duck named Trevor from a freezing canal. This involved navigating a hazardous environment of rubbish and frigid water for nearly three hours, ultimately leading to Trevor's successful relocation to a sanctuary.
