Peter Van Erp has been keeping exotic birds like these budgies, partly as a business and mostly as a way to fill his days. The 79-year-old is devastated by the loss of the stolen birds.But after Peter Van Erp's wife passed away just over a year ago, it became something more.
That's when he began finding solace in breeding and selling exotic birds out of his barn in Strathroy, Ont., west of London. From there, Van Erp, 79, keeps thousands of colourful birds ranging from canaries, diamond doves and star finches. The activity, he says, fills his days and serves as an extra source of income.However, on Tuesday morning Van Erp noticed something strange. As he entered the barn for the first check-in of the day, he saw that some of the birds were flying outside of their cages, although he remembered securing them as usual the night before .
Van Erp has filed a report with the OPP. He thinks the thieves entered the barn at between 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Monday, January 17. He and his family are now concerned that the birds are being sold on the black market.The missing birds are valued at between $16,000 and $17,000. "He is devastated," said his daughter, Lauri Whitbourn. She started an online fundraiser to help her father recoup some of the losses, and pay for seed for the remaining birds.The family is pleading with the public to contact the OPP with any helpful information.Afternoon DriveLauri and Pete Whitbourn speak with CBC Afternoon Drive host Chris dela Torre about their missing birds.
Perhaps a call to Thomas is in order?
Sadly the criminals who stole the birds will not care for the animals nearly as well as this poor man did.
But what about the convoy?
Thats fuhked man. How is this legal? These poor birds. What an existence.
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