AN INJURED swan left for dead on the road in Ennis is being nursed to health after being rescued by two big-hearted locals.
By Amy Copley
The wild swan had been subject to a suspected attack by another animal and was discovered incapacitated in the middle of the road at Ballyalla Lake on the night of Sunday, March 15, at 11:30pm.
Unable to move, the swan was at further risk of being struck by a car until the intervention of Ennis women Nuala Kerins and Bernie Cahill, who were driving home from a visit with Nuala’s sister.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Nuala recounted, “We stopped the car and we realised he was injured; he had an injury on his neck and one of his wings was spread out”.
It was then found that the swan suffered puncture like wounds on his neck from a suspected attack.
The pair knew they needed to act fast, however when attempts to get assistance from on-call vet failed, the pair contacted Gardaí in Ennis who “couldn’t have been nicer and more helpful”.
Gardaí then reached Doora-based veterinarian Francis Browne, who instructed the crew on how to safely put in swan in the boot of the squad car to bring it to Browne’s practice. Nuala recalls, “We were afraid to touch it you see, they can be very cross and very dangerous”. Gardaí brought the injured swan to Browne’s practice, “Frances gave it some pain relief and put him in a horse box with some straw”.
The swan stayed in Frances’ care for over a week, nursing him back to health. Browne came into contact with Kildare Wildlife Rescue who evaluated his recovery and are now rehabilitating him until he is fully ready to be placed back at his home, Ballyalla Lake.
Frances is urging pet owners “to keep dogs on the leash around places where swans are nesting as when they come onto land they are not as agile on water”.
