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Barton hawk stolen 'to silence it', fears owner


THIEVES may have stolen a hawk because it made too much noise, its concerned owner fears.

Pip, a five-year-old Harris hawk, was taken from her aviary in Barton, Oxford, on Friday morning after thieves broke open the lock and cut the bird loose from its tether.

Shaun Cadle, of Barton Village Road, said he was distraught by the theft and feared his bird could have been taken because of her “loud squawks”.

He said: “We are all gutted. We have raised Pip since she was a tiny chick.

“Whoever did this is scum.

“She was part of the family and they have just taken her off with no concern for her welfare.

“There are two possible options here. One is that she was stolen to order because birds of prey do remain quite sought after.

“The other is that somebody could have been alerted to her by her squawking, which is quite loud. It may have annoyed someone living nearby.”

The thieves struck sometime between 10am and 11.30am while Mr Cadle’s son, Aiden, 18, was out walking their dog.

Mr Cadle said: “Aiden is more upset than anyone because Pip was essentially his pet.

“We are all very worried about her health because whoever took Pip obviously has no idea how to treat birds of prey.

“All birds like this are attached to a falconry knot, because it means you can handle them more safely and comfortably.

“But when we discovered she had been taken we saw the knot had just been cut, which is very worrying.”

Pip stands about a foot tall and has a three-and-a-half-foot wingspan.

Mr Cadle added: “I have put notices in all the shops around here to highlight what has happened.

“Pip is quite a big bird and makes a lot of noise, so whoever has got her will certainly have a job keeping her quiet.

“I would urge whoever is responsible to please return her safely, and I would ask people in Oxford to keep an ear out.

“If you hear some unusual bird sounds, it could well be Pip.”

Anyone with any information should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Comments(15)

Lord Palmerston says...
9:57pm Mon 25 Jan 10

Not a pipsqueak then. It's aviary, by the way, Dan.

BicesterBod says...
10:23pm Mon 25 Jan 10

I'm sure the OM "journalists" never use spell check!

Green123 says...
10:45pm Mon 25 Jan 10

Dear Dan Hearn, I would have thought that as a professional journalist you would know that AVIAN creatures, i.e., birds, live in an A-V-I-A-R-Y. Either you are illiterate or lazy - and neither is acceptable, frankly.

LadyPenelope says...
8:08am Tue 26 Jan 10

Didn't the aviary have an alarm on the door?

Any One says...
10:07am Tue 26 Jan 10

V.funny Lady Penelope

LadyPenelope says...
10:53am Tue 26 Jan 10

Any One wrote:
V.funny Lady Penelope
Why funny? I used to feed rare/expensive birds for a friend when they were on holiday, and every door was alarmed.

zorba the geek says...
11:19am Tue 26 Jan 10

Why do the Cadles have a hawk. No mention of shows or educational visits to school so it's only a 'pet' kept locked in a shed. (One-upmanship on those staffie owners) And by the own admission a noisy one at that. I bet the dog's locked outside as well to make a noise and that they're really popular with the neighbours.

Pozzi says...
12:09pm Tue 26 Jan 10

I think everyone is missing the point. Who cares about spelling. The bird was a pet, it states that fact in the article, and it was stolen. Obviously some people that comment on hear just want attention.
I know that when someone tried to steal my families German Shepherd that we were distraught, luckily we got hime back.
People who steal are scum, there are no excuses.

Golum says...
1:14pm Tue 26 Jan 10

Pozzi wrote:
I think everyone is missing the point. Who cares about spelling. The bird was a pet, it states that fact in the article, and it was stolen. Obviously some people that comment on hear just want attention. I know that when someone tried to steal my families German Shepherd that we were distraught, luckily we got hime back. People who steal are scum, there are no excuses.
This was a "Pet", By the owners admission it made "made too much noise" and my have been "taken because of her “loud squawks”.

Sleep deprivation is a terrible thing. It has proberbly gone to the big perch in the sky. Or more likely has been sold.

Surely if people have sort after creatures like this, they would get the A-V-I-A-R-Y sound proofed so as to not to draw attention to it's existence and location?

sundance69 says...
1:22pm Tue 26 Jan 10

Im prey sue I mt this bird with her owner a few weeks ago, and photoed it, seemed a lovely creature, certainly wasnt making any noise

anyway, if its the same bird, I hope the theives get hit by a bus

Pozzi says...
1:25pm Tue 26 Jan 10

Golum wrote:
Pozzi wrote: I think everyone is missing the point. Who cares about spelling. The bird was a pet, it states that fact in the article, and it was stolen. Obviously some people that comment on hear just want attention. I know that when someone tried to steal my families German Shepherd that we were distraught, luckily we got hime back. People who steal are scum, there are no excuses.
This was a "Pet", By the owners admission it made "made too much noise" and my have been "taken because of her “loud squawks”. Sleep deprivation is a terrible thing. It has proberbly gone to the big perch in the sky. Or more likely has been sold. Surely if people have sort after creatures like this, they would get the A-V-I-A-R-Y sound proofed so as to not to draw attention to it's existence and location?
But if neighbours had a problems with the squawks then they should have confronted the owners. If the owners refuse to do anything then the envronmental agency can be involved. The owners will then be forced to find the animal a suitable home. Again no excuse for stealing, what the situation. People shouldn't have to hide what they own.

oxfordmale says...
1:47pm Tue 26 Jan 10

Why can't someone make the drivers of cars, pumping out at ear-deafening volumes, disappear?

This is my noise nightmare, that I live every day. Cars drive past and get caught at traffic lights - the music vibrates my conservatory and I think the glass is going to break.

I wonder if the thieves are one and the same - i.e. intolerant of everyone else, but unable to vet their own behaviour.

Really sorry to hear about your pet - if anyone had an issue regarding its noise they should have dealt with it through the proper channels.

kelbun says...
5:51pm Tue 26 Jan 10

The reporter uses the word "aviary" once and is spelt correctly, 2nd paragraph.
Either it has been corrected or you lot need glasses!!

Petre Mcvey says...
2:45am Wed 27 Jan 10

Oxmale, That's what you get for a cheapo conservatory, Kelbum, the O.M. have been sneaky and corrected the spelling without admitting they were wrong. It was spelt AVERY yesterday

Sophia says...
2:30pm Wed 27 Jan 10

There are some mean minded miserable gits around Oxford. Those that steal someone's beloved pet. And those that trouble to go on line to dream up ludicrous theories on why the owners are wicked people who deserve their loss. What saddos


Shaun Cadle and his son Aiden by the perch where Pip, their pet hawk had been tethered Missing hawk Pip

Shaun Cadle and his son Aiden by the perch where Pip, their hawk had been tethered

Missing hawk Pip



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