Furry friend care

By Tania Martin
CAROL Seeger is caring for burns victims of a different kind.
She has taken in several wallabies and kangaroos with badly burnt feet, paws and tails.
The Kallista wild life champion has joined a number of hills carers to take on the mammoth task of rehabilitating some of the bushfires’ most vulnerable victims.
“This is the first time I have cared for burn victims,” Ms Seeger said.
But she said the majority of carers trained in treating burnt animals were on the front line rescuing wildlife from the fire-ravaged areas of Yarra Glen, Dixons Creek and Gippsland.
Hills carers from Help for Wildlife and Wildlife Victoria are now working around the clock to help injured kangaroos, wallabies and koalas. Carers involved in the project also include Paul and Francine Davey, and Geoff and Elaine Sands.
Ms Seeger has turned her bird aviary into an animal recovery centre for four of the burn victims.
The animals have varying degrees of burns and need daily treatment, which includes pain relief, tending to the burns and bandaging the affected areas.
Ms Seeger now needs help with treatment and to build additional shelters.
She is calling for off-duty medical and veterinary nurses to help out on a roster system to administer pain relief and to change the animals’ bandages.
But it’s not just Ms Seeger who needs the help.
Shelters and carers across the hills also need assistance.
A volunteer nursing list has been set up for anyone who wants to volunteer their time to help get these vulnerable creatures onto the road to recovery.
Those interested should call Andrea on 0400 701 785 or Nickey on 0414 424 987.
Ms Seeger also needs help to build outdoor enclosures for the injured animals for the next stage of their recovery.
She needs people to donate fencing materials and free labour to put up fencing.
Once the animals no longer need round-the-clock care, they would be moved to the enclosures to continue their rehabilitation.
Ms Seeger said the enclosures needed to be “fox-safe” to prevent the wildlife getting hurt by rogue foxes or dogs.
Those wanting to help out with the enclosures can donate materials, such as cyclone wire netting, or call Ms Seeger on 9756 6661.