The owner of Caerphilly Bird Rescue in Wales has been handed a suspended prison sentence and a lifetime ban from keeping animals after pleading guilty to six animal welfare offences.
Carol Gravenor, 67, of Coed Main, Caerphilly, was charged after 26 birds, including pigeons, blackbirds, crows, jackdaws, a peregrine falcon, and a buzzard, were found in an unsuitable and unhygienic environment.
An RSPCA inspector found the birds with injuries and illnesses which had not been treated properly, including fractured wings and damaged eyes and legs.
Mrs Gravenor appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court on Thursday January 11, where she was given a 14-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay £300 and a £154 victim surcharge.
This article in the Caerphilly Observer (dated 12 January 2024) provides a report from the RSPCA inspector about what was found at the sanctuary and an explanation from Mrs Gravenor’s solicitor about how she’d become ‘overwhelmed’ and ‘swamped’ following the death of her husband in 2021.
The birds were removed from the premises on 11 April 2023 and most had to be euthanised on welfare grounds.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Not knowing all the details, but on the face of it, this seems to be a very sad case indeed. I’m not sure if a prison sentence is appropriate and perhaps the costs of prison etc would have been better spent on an education program and community service and funding a reputable animal rescue charity. It does seem ironic that other people who kill and cause animal suffering through intentionally injuring, shooting, trapping, snaring, poisoning, bludgeoning, hunting with dogs etc, are either legally protected by the law or get away with it.
Hi Rosie, the prison sentence was suspended for 12 months so as long as the defendant stays out of trouble during that period she won’t be going to prison.
So, so sad. Are these places inspected? Do they have to have a licence from the council?
There is no inspection regime, as far as I know. But regarding licensing…
See https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/575719
https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/care/rehabilitation/wildliferehabilitation#:~:text=A%20licence%20is%20not%20currently,future%20legislation%20may%20change%20this.
and, a rather more definitive:
https://www.bwrc.org.uk/bwrc-guidelines/
in particular, look at the ‘Relevant Legislation’ section (it is a complex legislative regime)
In that case, I think all establishments containing animals should be licensed and that would bring them under an inspection regime
“In that case, I think all establishments containing animals should be licensed and that would bring them under an inspection regime”
In what case?
By so increasing their costs so dramatically, you would risk closing most of them overnight.
There should be some kind of emergency helpline to help someone in need like this.
It looks like a well meaning person in crisis, it’s so easy to let things drift out of control.
Someone to talk to would have helped.