Innovative procedures at nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary turn prognosis positive for injured wild bird .

A great-horned owl that fell into a concrete mixer is slowly recovering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s Wild Friends certified rehabilitation center in Kanab, Utah, after recently coming into its care.  

With dried concrete covering approximately 25 percent of his two-pound body, it was the first time Best Friends’ staff had seen a case like this in its 40-year history, according to Best Friends Animal Society’s Wild Friends supervisor, Bart Richwalski. 

“We reached out to other wildlife rehabilitators and they had never heard of an owl falling into concrete before, either,” Richwalski said. “After doing some research, our team quickly came up with a plan to help the owl in the least invasive way possible.” 

That plan included a 20-minute daily bath while the owl was under anesthesia. Thankfully, after a series of concrete removals from the face, chest and right wing, the owl has been recovering well and has a positive prognosis.  

“This was a brand-new situation for the Wild Friends team and they really stepped up to the plate to do their best for this owl,” said Judah Battista, Best Friends Animal Society’s Chief Sanctuary Officer. “Their innovative approach and compassionate care is such a beautiful testament to Best Friends’ belief that every animal deserves a second chance.”  

Richwalski estimates that the owl is a juvenile male, born earlier this year. Initially, the owl was recovering indoors, residing in a medium-sized soft carrier that allowed staff to handle him more easily. Recently, the owl graduated to an outdoor enclosure where he has been able to ascend to a 6-foot perch, a sign that his recovery continues to go well.  

Still, the owl will need to stay in Best Friends’ care until the spring or summer, which is when molting is expected to occur and he can once again resume silent flight. 

After that, the owl can be released back into the wild, in a wooded area near where he was found. 

“He still has a long road ahead of him, but he’s a fighter,” Richwalski said. 

This owl is just one of approximately 1,600 dogs, cats, horses, goats, pigs, bunnies, birds, and wildlife that have found refuge at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary and the headquarters of Best Friends Animal Society, which has a mission of making America a no-kill nation by partnering with more than 5,300 shelters and rescues across the country.  

*No-kill is defined by a 90% save rate for animals entering a shelter and is a meaningful and common-sense benchmark for measuring lifesaving progress. Typically, the number of pets who are suffering from irreparable medical or behavioral issues that compromise their quality of life and prevent them from being rehomed is not more than 10% of all dogs and cats entering shelters. For any community to be no-kill, all stakeholders in that community must work together to achieve and sustain that common goal while prioritizing community safety and good quality of life for pets as guiding no-kill principles. This means cooperation among animal shelters, animal rescue groups, government agencies, community members and other stakeholders, all committed to best practices and protocols.    

About Best Friends Animal Society 

Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization dedicated to saving the lives of dogs and cats in America’s shelters and making the entire country no-kill. Founded in 1984, Best Friends runs lifesaving facilities and programs nationwide in partnership with more than 5,500 shelters and rescue organizations. From our headquarters in Kanab, Utah, we also operate the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary — a destination that brings our mission to life for thousands of visitors each year. We maintain the most comprehensive animal sheltering data in the country and make it accessible to the public — empowering communities with critical insights into the needs of their local shelters and how they can help. We believe every dog and cat deserves a home. And we believe that, by working together, we can Save Them All®. 

Feature Image: (Photo: Best Friends Animal Society) Sierra Medlin, manager of small animals at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, takes a look at the great-horned owl’s progress following a concrete-removal procedure.