The decision to ban a pensioner from taking his pet owls for a walk on a city street has been reprieved after fierce public outcry.
Published: 7:30AM BST 17 Aug 2010
Russell Burt, aged 74, was banned from taking his owls outside after his local council in Plymouth told him the daily walks were a safety risk.
But growing support for Mr Burt and his pet birds from around the world has forced Plymouth City Council to back track re-think the move.
Mr Burt said he was over-the-moon told be told there was no ban on Monday and promptly took his pet owls out in public again.
Mr Burt has walked his birds around his home town for nearly 10 years - without incident.
But officials said he could no longer take the owls out on the grounds that they could be ''spooked'' by traffic and ''run amok'' and attack someone.
Mr Burt's plight even reached the Conservative Party's head office.
On his blog on the party's website, Councillor Harry Phibbs has asked 'Why is Plymouth Council persecuting the Owl Man?'
A spokesperson for Plymouth City Council said Mr Burt was free to walk his owls in public.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7948890/Pensioner-allowed-to-walk-owls-after-public-outcry.html
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