Mum ‘gutted’ as she’s forced to hand over emu chick she bought on eBay to RSPCA
After buying a £25 emu egg from eBay and successfully hatching it, mum-of-three Charlotte Harrison had to hand her 'pet' over to RSPCA
PET fans might want to look away, as this one will leave them mopping up tears.
Mum Charlotte Harrison recently hit the headlines after she bought an emu egg from eBay for just £25, then successfully hatched it at home.
Sadly, it's not a case of happily ever after as Charlotte has been forced to give up her "beloved pet" chick Kevin.
The 24-year old, who is mum to Ellie, four, 19-month-old Rhys and four-month-old Molly, formed a such a strong bond with Kevin that he followed her around her home in Bordon, Hampshire, thinking she was his mum.
She hoped to keep him as a pet, but last week two members of the RSPCA arrived at her home after somebody spotted videos the mum posted online and put in a call.
Charlotte tearfully agreed to hand over Kevin and he has now been put in the care of a specialist.
While losing her pet has left the mum "gutted", she insists she understands why it was necessary.
Reps from the charity explained the three-bedroom home was not appropriate to raise an emu - which can grow to 6ft and 10st and live for 20 years - and added they can sometimes become aggressive with human owners, believing them to be sexual partners.
Now, reps from the charity have agreed to send Charlotte an update with a photo of Kevin once he’s settled in at a new farm.
Charlotte said: “It’s so sad without Kevin, in the time he was with us he was adored and became a real member of the family - I felt so protective of him and the kids loved him.
“I was hurt that someone tipped off the RSPCA because we’d created a lovely home for Kevin and had planned for when he got big - we were treating him well and I’d done all my research.
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“I cried saying goodbye to Kevin."
On the day the chick was removed, Charlotte and her partner Darren Farmer, 44, discovered the emu she thought was male is actually a female after sending membrane from the egg to a specialist to examine.
Kevin the emu’s gender confusion is similar to that of the fictional Kevin - the bird character who discovers ‘he’ is actually female in the Disney Pixar film Up - that he was named after.
The RSPCA confirmed: “A pet emu chick was voluntarily signed over to the RSPCA in Hampshire.
“The emu is now being cared for by a specialist who is able to provide for the bird’s unique welfare needs.”
RSPCA exotics officer added Philip Hamilton said: “We are deeply concerned about the number of exotic animals now being kept as pets.
“People may buy them with little idea of how difficult they can be to keep. This is why we would encourage anyone thinking of getting an exotic pet to find out as much as possible about the animal’s needs and whether they’re a realistic pet.
“The RSPCA urges people to think carefully before buying large birds as pets. Emus can grow to more than 6ft tall and are the second-tallest living bird by height after the ostrich.
“Until 2007 they required a licence to be kept, under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.
“They can live for up to 20 years and need large outdoor paddocks with a shelter and high fencing to keep them safe.
"Problems can also occur as they mature, as they may see their owner as their sexual partner and this can lead to aggression.
“Emus are certainly not fussy eaters so care needs to be taken to make sure they don’t eat whatever is lying around.
“They also need water, dust and mud to bathe in to keep their feathers in good condition. They are also known to be sensitive to noise, easily stressed and require specialist vet care, which is likely to be expensive and not available nearby.”