A 28‑year‑old man from Greenock, Scotland, pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences after authorities found 19 birds of prey locked in filthy cat carriers at his home. The case has drawn national attention to bird abuse and raised questions about the quality of care for captive wildlife.
Police were granted a search warrant in May 2024. A team that included Scottish SPCA inspectors and veterinary surgeons entered the property and discovered the birds—owls, hawks and kestrels—in dark, dusty carriers that were covered in faeces, maggots and nest debris. Many were injured and suffered from severe skin infections. One eagle owl had missing feathers, an American kestrel was missing a foot, and a Harris’s Hawk sustained a constriction injury from a leash that had become caught in the carrier door.
The Scottish SPCA inspector describing the scene called it “one of the worst cases of bird welfare I have ever seen.” Vets on the team said the sight of birds that had been deprived of water and space to stretch their wings brought them to tears.
Hodge was charged with two animal‑welfare offences and pleaded guilty at Greenock Sheriff Court on 8 October. He faces sentencing on 4 November. The Scottish SPCA has removed all 19 birds and arranged for them to be transferred to several rescue centres across Scotland, including the Scottish Owl Centre and Edinburgh Zoo, where they can receive proper care and rehabilitation.
The case has sparked a broader conversation about the responsibilities of owners who keep birds of prey domestically and the role of animal‑welfare regulators in preventing these situations. It also highlights the importance of routine inspections for small animal facilities and the need for public awareness of bird abuse.
Source: New York Post
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