Freedom on the Fourth

Houston SPCA releases rehabilitated bald eagle after traumatic head injury

After three months of expert medical care at the Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center, a rehabilitated bald eagle was released, returning one of the nation’s most recognizable symbols of freedom to his natural habitat.

When the bald eagle arrived at the Houston SPCA on March 20, he was unable to survive on his own. Wildlife specialists believe he had suffered a traumatic head injury, possibly after he was struck by a vehicle. He was found near the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge in Anahuac, Texas, on March 20.

A game warden with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service brought him to the Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center so he could receive life-saving care.Throughout his recovery, the Houston SPCA’s wildlife rehabilitation and veterinary teams carefully monitored his progress daily.

His treatment included anti-inflammatory medication, a period of strict kennel rest to allow his injuries to heal, regular medical exams and physical therapy in their outdoor flight complex to rebuild the endurance and powerful flight muscles needed to survive in the wild.

It was a heartwarming moment. Photo courtesy of Houston SPCA

“Releasing a bald eagle is always a special moment,” said Brooke Yahney, Director of Houston SPCA WildlifeCenter. “It represents months of dedicated care by our veterinary and wildlife rehabilitation teams and reflects Houston SPCA’s commitment to giving injured native wildlife a second chance.”

Attendees included members of Houston SPCA Wildlife Center team, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, as well as Houston SPCA supporters, Brady and Zane Carruth.

The successful release marks a powerful reminder of the lifesaving work performed every day at Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center.

“It is incredibly rewarding for a magnificent bird like this return to his natural habitat, healthy and strong,” said Yahney.

The Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center treats more than 17,000 injured, orphaned, and ill native wild animals each year with the goal of rehabilitating and releasing them back to their habitats.

Houston SPCA is located at 7007 Old Katy Rd. Call 713-869-SPCA (7722) or visit HoustonSPCA.org to learn how you can help.

Photo courtesy of Houston SPCA

He successfully returned to his natural environment.

animal rescue houston spca spca animal welfare adopt dont shop promoted

zoom zoom

Classic car dealer rolls into Houston with massive Katy facility

Courtesy of Streetside Classics

Streetside's Katy location will be similar to its store in Fort Worth.

Classic car enthusiasts will soon have a new place to shop for vintage rides. Streetside Classics, a vintage car dealer with six locations nationwide, will open its seventh in Katy later this year.

Located at at 500 Commerce Pkwy, the 56,000-square-foot showroom will have enough space for more than 250 cars. The facility will house classic muscle cars such as Mustangs, Cudas, and Corvettes as well as classic trucks, SUVs, and other vehicles from the early 1900’s to contemporary exotics.

"When we started Streetside, we committed to a customer-first philosophy in an industry that desperately needed it," said Donna Mueller, co-founder and chairwoman of Streetside Classics, in a statement. "We’re excited to expand to a seventh location in a vibrant and fast-growing market like Houston. We hope to be a hub for the growing enthusiast community by hosting car shows, welcoming car clubs, and always being a place where you can come see that car your dad had.”

One way Streetside caters to buyers is with in-house lifts that allow shoppers to inspect a vehicle more thoroughly than simply opening the hood. In addition, the dealer offers financing, shipping, warranties, and a “low-pressure environment” to make buying and owning a classic car as easy as possible.

Ahead of the opening, Streetside is already accepting applications for consignment cars. Interested parties will find more information at the company’s website.

Mueller founded Streetside Classics in Charlotte, NC in 2008. Since then, the company has grown to six locations, including an outpost in Fort Worth. It sells more than 3,000 cars per year with revenues of over $1 billion annually, according to press materials.