Rare owl left ‘close to death’ by youths in failed theft

A ‘cruel and sick’ attack on a beloved pet owl in Old Windsor left it ‘close to death’.

On Wednesday, Sue Lee-Paterson was at work when she received a call from her neighbour at 12.30pm about her owl Dobby.

The neighbour had heard Sue’s dog barking and sent a workman to the house to check what was happening.

When he got there he saw three teenage boys, about 16-years-old and dressed in black, in the garden armed with wire cutters.

They had cut through the wire aviary in an attempt to steal the startled bird.

Sue, 57, believes the trio attempted to drag the owl through the hole leaving Dobby ‘looking like he was dead’.

The rare European Eagle-owl was left bleeding from the mouth, nostril, left eye and leg following the ordeal.

The three youths fled empty handed before the workman could catch them.

Sue said: “He was in shock, his legs were okay but he wouldn’t move when I tried to move him.

“Birds can die of a heart attack if they are shocked.

“The chicken wire on his aviary had been pushed in. It looks like they were trying to steal him rather than just hurt him.”

Dobby has lived with Sue since he was born in April 2003 and his cage sits at the back of her garden which backs onto the Thames Path. For this reason he is well known by people in Old Windsor who often pass by.

“People know him even if they don’t know me,” said Sue.

“People have a rapport with him, he’s got his own little fan club.

“He’s been part of our family since he was born.

“When Dobby was a baby he and my son Josh used to lay on the floor watching TV together.”

Josh, now 15, broke the news about Dobby’s injuries to residents on the We Love Old Windsor Facebook page, calling the incident ‘incredibly cruel and sick’.

The post has gathered more than 250 comments, many sharing stories of how they have visited Dobby over the years with children and grandchildren.

“It happened in the middle of the day so they are obviously bold as brass, totally stupid or were on a mission to steal him,” added Sue about the attack.

“They have ruined this owl’s life, he is never going to be the same again.”

A vet visited Dobby yesterday (Thursday) and did not think he had broken anything and prescribed painkillers.

If he does not get better soon he will have to be taken in for more tests.

The incident has been reported to the police who are investigating.

Call 101 with information or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.