Fred Leak, a dentist from British Columbia, proved that not all dentists are bad when he saved a bald eagle who had been shot and left for dead by a truck driver.
He wasn’t alone in this heroic accomplishment, as several veterinarians and doctors chipped in to aid in the rescue process for this lucky bird.
It all started when residents of Tofino, British Columbia heard a loud gunshot one afternoon and witnesses noticed a truck driving away shortly thereafter. After some investigation, they were able to find a wounded eagle who was missing the majority of his beak. All that remained was the tip of his beak, which was still attached to his skull via a thin piece of cartilage.
These concerned people quickly took the bird to Rory’s Refuge, where it was immediately transported to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre in Errington, British Columbia. Initially, several veterinarians suggested that the eagle be put down, but volunteers persevered and were delighted to see that the bird was starting to recover.
That’s when Dr. Brian Andrews came into the picture offering a unique solution. Andrews took an exact mold of the missing portion of the bird’s beak and then built a hard wax model for dental technician Fred Leak to work with. When the mold was ready for application, Leak constructed a permanent prosthesis and even tinted it yellow to match the rest of the bird’s beak, just in case the bird felt self-conscious around the ladies. Leak successfully applied the prosthetic beak and the bald eagle made a full recovery!
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He wasn’t alone in this heroic accomplishment, as several veterinarians and doctors chipped in to aid in the rescue process for this lucky bird.
It all started when residents of Tofino, British Columbia heard a loud gunshot one afternoon and witnesses noticed a truck driving away shortly thereafter. After some investigation, they were able to find a wounded eagle who was missing the majority of his beak. All that remained was the tip of his beak, which was still attached to his skull via a thin piece of cartilage.
These concerned people quickly took the bird to Rory’s Refuge, where it was immediately transported to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre in Errington, British Columbia. Initially, several veterinarians suggested that the eagle be put down, but volunteers persevered and were delighted to see that the bird was starting to recover.
That’s when Dr. Brian Andrews came into the picture offering a unique solution. Andrews took an exact mold of the missing portion of the bird’s beak and then built a hard wax model for dental technician Fred Leak to work with. When the mold was ready for application, Leak constructed a permanent prosthesis and even tinted it yellow to match the rest of the bird’s beak, just in case the bird felt self-conscious around the ladies. Leak successfully applied the prosthetic beak and the bald eagle made a full recovery!
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THANK YOU IS JUST NOT ENOUGH FOR THE LOVE AND APPRECIATION I HAVE FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO TRY TO SAVE THIS GORGEOUS BIRD AND IT GOES TO SHOW NOT ALL DENTISTS ARE TROPHY HUNTERS BUT SERIOUSLY I AM THANKFUL BEYOND MY MERE WORDS MAY YOU BE ETERNALLY BLESSED, AMEN+++ SINCERELY, RUTH A. RIVERA
Hurrah for dentists that love animals!
Such a heroic deed! awesome job!
Not only did you save a bird but you've saved my belief in humanity.
Where's the "Like" button!
It's so sad what some people do to animals and humans. Thankfully, there are more good people than heartless.
Thank you to all of you good kind animal advocates involved in fixing this bird up, to live another day. You are living proof that here are indeed decent people in the world. ☺️
Thank you!
Eagles are so majestic
A thank you for saving this beautiful Bird...I hope that truck driver rots in he'll...
That is so wonderful, how all of you involved with the eagle, saved his life. Thank you all for caring so much. May God bless & be with you all.
And I hope who ever shot him is caught & punished.
no words can describe how good it is to read such a wonderful story -- thanks to the dentist - but also all others involved in the rescue and for not giving up when some wanted to put the eagle down. wonderful story - wonderful humans you all !
Did they catch the guy who did this?
Wonderful intelligence & compassion. Admiration & respect for all involved in saving this beautiful Eagle.
Tofino is a small town on the upper west Pacific side of British columbia island. Woukld think the perpetrator would be known and or found.
I just read about this bald eagle in florada that was cuaght in a car grill just after Hurricane Mathew went through they took it to a bird hospital BEAKS(Bird Emergency,Assitences & Kare Service)to recover