We were contacted by a concerned member of the public about a canary being kept in a small cage in the window of a barbershop on Bognor Regis High Street.
The bird was reportedly left in direct sunlight for long periods. The cage was heavily soiled with faeces, there appeared to be no water in the drinker, and the bird was not being provided with appropriate food. Black mould was also visible on the bottom of the cage. The individual who contacted us had carefully documented these concerns over time and had attempted to raise the issue with other authorities, without success.
One of our rescuers visited the premises to discuss the bird’s welfare with the shop owner and offered to remove the canary and ensure it received proper care. The owner refused to give up the bird unless payment was made, initially asking for £100 and later increasing the demand to £250.
Faced with the choice between leaving the canary in ongoing neglect or securing its immediate safety, we made the difficult decision to pay in order to remove the bird from the situation.
The canary is now in a safe and caring home, where it has appropriate space, food, water and attention. We are pleased to report that the bird is doing well.
This case highlights how vulnerable captive birds can be when their care is not properly understood — and how important it is for members of the public to speak up when they see an animal in distress.