Wounded baby pigeon becomes taxi passenger in heartwarming Milton Keynes rescue mission

Animal-loving Yelda Mackley, who owns Melis Turkish restaurant in CMK’s Midsummer Boulevard, noticed the tiny and bedraggled pigeon standing outside her door last night (Wednesday April 22).

"He was not in a good way. He had bad wounds either side of his head as though some other bird or animal had attacked him,” she said.

"But he just stood there, waiting...It was like he was asking me for help.”

Yelda picked up the creature and carefully cleaned and dressed his wounds. She then wrapped him up warmly and offered him food and water.

"He didn’t seem scared. He just seemed to trust me. I knew I had to do everything in my power to save the little fellow,” she said. "Whether it’s a wild bird, an animal or a human, I could never refuse to give help. We must always show compassion.”

But it was getting late at night and Yelda knew the young pigeon would need specialist help and nursing to survive. She began a lengthy search to find a bird rescue hospital that could take him, calling the RSPCA and other organisations and appealling for help far and wide on social media.

Eventually she found a bird rescue place in Bedford and they were willing to take him.

"But I didn’t have my car that day and I had to get him there. There was only one thing to do – and that was to ask a taxi to take him,” she said.

Yelda called Skyline and admits they were “surprised” at her request

"They said: ‘You want to book a taxi for a pigeon?!’ But when I explained what had happened, the driver was fine,” she said.

"I wrapped the pigeon up securely, told the driver to keep him safe and warm, paid the £31 fare, and off he went.”

Today (Thursday April 23) the young pigeon is recovering well in his hospital cage, where is is walking around, chirping and eating.

"I’m just delighted he’s okay,” said Yelda. “And I am proud I was able to help him.

"People should never ever refuse to give help to anything that needs it.”