DELAWARE - The First State Animal Center and SPCA is caring for thousands of birds after a shipment was mistakenly sent to a Sussex County post office, where many were found dead.
The shipment, which originated from a hatchery in Pennsylvania, was intended for recipients in multiple states including Texas, Ohio and Florida. Instead, between 10,000 and 12,000 birds were sent to Delaware and stranded for more than three days in hot conditions. The First State Animal Center and SPCA said it received the birds around 2:55 p.m. on Friday, May 2, after the Delaware Department of Agriculture was alerted by the Sussex County post office.
According to the Department of Agriculture, roughly 8,100 birds were still alive by Friday evening and approximately 2,000 more birds died over the weekend.
The DDA is currently investigating how the shipping error occurred and why the birds were ultimately routed to Delaware. In the meantime, the First State Animal Center and SPCA is focused on stabilizing the surviving birds and says they will be placed for adoption once they are healthy. The organization is asking for donations to help get the birds back to good health.
