Alison Halford, Councillor

I needed cheering up after Sadie; my recent Capricorn Animal Rescue Yorkie acquisition was hit by a car as she dashed across the road following her bigger chum, Hufflepuff. This horrible drama unfolded on 14th February close to the church at St David’s Park. The letter to both local papers tells the story: FLINTSHIRE, CH5 3RL. 22nd February 2009. ‘Dear Editor, Sadie, my Capricorn Rescue Yorkshire Terrier is home minus a leg but alive thanks to the professionalism by Village vets staff and compassionate members of the public. Through your newspaper, I would be grateful if I can thank all involved in that traumatic episode that unfolded on 14th February by the church in St. David’s Park, Ewloe. Two of my four dogs spotted another across the road and dashed to it despite my screaming at them to stop. The lady with the dog, (Anna), tried hard to slow the traffic but Sadie was hit. Holding my badly injured pooch, a man appeared who had been passenger in the collision car. Asking what he could do to help, desperate to secure the other three animals; I handed over my car keys. In my panic, I sent him to the wrong …..

Alison’s recent donation to Capricorn Animal Rescue Centre, Padeswood has been heralded in the February 3rd edition of the Evening Leader. The article can be downloaded below: Alison, much impressed by the conscientious work of Shiela Stewart, is quoted as saying: Shiela does a wonderful job and quite often around here we take it for granted that whenever we find an injured bird or half-dead dog, we can call her up and she will take it in straight away.

SAVING THE ALBATROSS.   ‘Albatrosses have survived the harshest marine environment for 50 million years; more than 100 times longer than our own species. However, these magnificent birds are unable to cope with the man-made threats, such as long line fishing.   Albatrosses should be free to circle the globe for millions of years to come- we must stop this needless slaughter now to prevent an entire branch being torn from the evolutionary tree’.   SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH, BROADCASTER AND NATURALIST.   A MIRACLE OF EVOLUTION, ABLE TO ROAM THE OCEANS WITHOUT A PAUSE….   Amongst the largest flying birds, weighing up to 25 lbs. The Wandering Albatross has a wing span of 11 feet and live for 50 years or more. It will go on foraging trips five thousand miles long to feed its chick. Their breeding pattern is not kind to increasing their numbers. They lay one egg only that can take 70 days to incubate and another 10 months for young birds to fledge. For over a year each parent in turn makes frequent trips of up to five thousand miles, for days on end, to bring food back for the hungry chick. The breeding cycle is …..

Alison enjoyed her bird watching trip to see albatrosses. Moved by the plight of these majestic birds Alison became a patron of the Save the Albatross group. A close up of an albatross taken by Alison was published in the group’s newsletter which can be viewed at www.savethealbatross.net       This shy albatross was the highlight of a pelagic holiday by patron, Alison Halford     Anyone interested in viewing the magnificent albatross might contact the following tour organisers www.peregrineadventures.com     Peregrine Adventures, 1st Floor, 8 Clerewater Place, Lower Way, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 3RF. Or telephone Peregrine Tours on 01635 872300 and quote RSPB.