LEAH: FOUNDING DIRECTOR & OPERATOR

 

Leah has a passion for working with exotic animals and has spent her working life caring for their needs. With a degree in wildlife and forestry conservation (minus officer training after she realized conservation officers have to kill a lot of wildlife), plus certification through IWRCA for wound care, parasitology, and nutrition, as well as veterinary lab procedures through Algonquin college, Leah has a vast amount of experience working with different exotic animals and is a board certified wildlife rehabilitator. She spent time as a volunteer dog trainer at SPCA and worked at the World Parrot Refuge doing nutrition, wound care, and upkeep with cage cleaning. She has also worked at North Island Wildlife Recovery Association (NIWRA) located in Coombs, BC. Leah also has qualifications in Veterinary Assistance, including Surgical Veterinary Nursing. 

 

Flying Fur Animal Rescue and Refuge (FFARR) grew gradually as Leah agreed to foster animals from her positions of employment in Veterinary clinics and at NIWRA, especially sugar gliders (hence the name “Flying Fur”). Eventually, word started spreading and FFARR has continued to grow from there. Leah supports the public in rescuing injured animals, surrendered animals, and also helps local Animal Control and Animal Rescues with taking in animals they are not as familiar with treating. This often includes animals such as rabbits (wild and feral domestic), ferrets, rats, pigs, sugar gliders, birds etc.

 

Caring for exotic and wild animals increases the risk of contracting Zoonotic Diseases. In the last 5 years Leah has suffered from Rat Bite fever. This left her wheelchair bound for a period of time due to septic arthritis amongst other symptoms. Leah also contracted a very serious bacterial infection through an open wound leading to swelling in her spine. This has resulted in many complications and has led to her having numerous spinal surgeries (currently 4), including the insertion of metal rods in her neck and spine. Leah is unable to continue as a dedicated employee in a workplace as a result. Leah relies on the support of volunteers as well as her family to continue running Flying Fur Animal Rescue.