recommendations please for the best animal charities

[Daemonaquila]

4. Wildlife rehabilitation...

Rehabilitation/wildlife work tends to get much less support than domestic animal shelters. I suggest Last Chance Forever, the Bird of Prey Conservancy (I have volunteered with them since around 1993) in Texas, which does fabulous work on a shoestring budget, releasing 60-80% of the injured birds back to the wild. Right now they have multiple eagles (average 14 oz of food/day, requiring months to 4 YEARS of treatment, physical therapy, etc. before release) on track to go home, and several who are permanent residents due to various injuries. As an example, one of those was shot through the head, destroying an eye and doing a lot of skull/beak damage, but she survived and still fosters youngsters brought to the center. LCF also cares for all other raptor species, including many endangered birds.

I also would suggest the Minnesota Raptor Center, which does more good research into new treatments for these animals than any other institution - they are led by a veterinary professor at the U. Their funding is a little less critical because they are affiliated with a major university, but they always can use the help.

Also, the National Eagle Center in MN.