Bend wildlife center closes, vet gives up permit

BEND, Ore. — A wildlife rehabilitation center in central Oregon has closed after its resident veterinarian gave up his permit.

The Bend Bulletin reports that High Desert Wildlife center shut down and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife took most of the animals that were receiving care there.

Center co-founder Dr. Jeff Cooney gave up his wildlife rehabilitation permit associated with the center earlier in August.

Department spokeswoman Michelle Dennehy says officials dealt with the animals last week. She says some were released into the wild, some were transferred to nearby wildlife centers and some were euthanized.

She says she’ll likely have more information once a report on the center is finished.

Former volunteer Amy Vukovic says the center was unclean, didn’t provide enough training for volunteers and kept birds in too-small spaces.