This article is from page 8 of the 2011-08-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
AN EAST Clare businessman has flown to the rescue of a teenager whose beloved birds were stolen.
Sean Kavanagh (15) from Clonlara was heartbroken when he went to feed his exotic birds last week, only to find that thieves had ripped out the wire on his backyard aviary and stolen them.
The Clonlara teen had worked tirelessly, cutting grass and washing neighbours’ cars and windows to earn the money to get set up in his hobby, only to have the birds stolen within days of him buying them.
When Paul Hogan, owner of the ‘Crocodile Dundee’ animal business in Ardnacrusha heard about the theft, he wanted to help.
“I got in contact with him and I was very impressed with him. He’s a lovely, genuine lad and he worked like mad to buy those birds. Some youngsters get eveything handed to them on a plate, but he worked for it. I thought it was terrible, what happened to him,” Mr Hogan told The Clare People. Paul Hogan runs Crocodile Dundee, a dog grooming service, school and kennels but he also has a mobile pet shop and has been selling and dealing with exotic birds for years.
“I wanted to do something to help Sean. I know what it’s like to have such an interest and attachment to birds,” he said.
Paul has made Sean a present of a pair of colourful cockatiels as well as some finches and canaries to fill his aviary with song once again.
“I just want to say a big thanks to Paul. It means so much, what he did,” Kavanagh told The Clare People