Help NYC Get a Wildlife Rehab Center

Most big cities in America have a wildlife rehabilitation center where do-gooders can take injured hawks, sick foxes or orphaned squirrels. New York is the only one that doesn’t but that may change if the Wild Bird Fund wins a $250,000 grant from Pepsi.

Right now anyone who finds an orphaned, sick or injured animal has to track down a willing vet or, more likely, volunteer wildlife rehabber, who has to take care of the animal at home (often their under-sized New York apartment). I’m a NYC rehabber and I could never handle all the calls and requests I get. People who find the animals are understandably panicked that they can’t help the animal.

The Wild Bird Fund already has more than 1,000 patients a year–pigeons, hawks, songbirds, doves, jays, squirrels. They want to expand by half its operation through Animal General, a vet at 558 Columbus at 87th Street. They’ve applied for a Pepsi Refresh grant of $250,000, which goes to the group that gets the most votes here.

Vote for the Wild Bird Fund here You can vote once a day through September