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RNLI lifeguard rescues budgie on a beach
Blue the budgie with the RNLI lifeguards.

The bird had travelled almost nine miles away from home.

An adventurous budgie who took a four-day trip away from home has been reunited with his owner, thanks to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Blue went missing from his home in Wales but days later, he was found on Aberavon beach – almost nine miles away - by a group of schoolchildren.

RNLI lifeguard supervisor Sophie Phillips was called out to the unusual rescue and cared for the bird while her team tried to locate the owner.

After appealing to local vets, it was a Facebook post by the lifeguards that eventually caught the attention of Blue's owner, and the pair were finally reunited.

After the rescue, Sophie said: “The last thing I expected to see was a budgie on the beach, and we were so glad we were able to help reunite the bird with its owner’.

Grateful for the efforts of Sophie and the lifeguards, Blue's owner made a charitable donation to the RNLI.

Image (C) RNLI.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.