Pets' trauma revealed

The images, released for the first time by Pet Stop owner Valerie Greenwood, show the injuries sustained by bird Joey after he was taken in a raid on her Catherine Street store in April 2008. Joey was bundled into a hold all with another cockatoo, an African Grey parrot and two snakes by thugs who forced their way into the shop on a Wednesday evening. Showing the images for the first time Ms Greenwood has described how she arrived early the next morning to find a trail of carnage and blood on the shop floor, as well as her beloved creatures gone. The distressed animals were found three days later when police swooped on a house in Portrush after a neighbour heard the birds squawking. Recalling the ordeal, Ms Greenwood described how her prized cockatoo was returned home blood soaked with appalling injuries, including a crushed beak and blood stained feathers.

"When I got Joey back he wasn't far from death," recalled Ms Greenwood, "I remember sitting with him on my lap the whole way home and just crying because he was in such a bad state."

"His beak was completely crushed, he was covered in blood, he was missing feathers and had holes in his wings. When we got him to the vet that night he said that Joey was moments from death. He was very badly dehydrated and drank from a bowl of water for about ten minutes."

Valerie continued: "As for the African Grey, he was left completely traumatised by it all. To this day he is still very jumpy and doesn't like to be handled. Harry, the umbrella cockatoo was also badly injured. His cage was smashed by whoever stole him to get him out and that alone would cause a great amount of distress," Valerie said.

"What really annoyed me the most was the cruelty to the animals. The birds were found cowering on the kitchen floor of the house they were found. The person who stole Joey and the animals was never charged with anything, and I am not even sure if the couple found with them even went to court, which is sad."

"That was the second time Joey was stolen. And before no-one was charged wither. The last time I heard something was over a year ago when I received a letter from the PPS, but I have not heard anything since."

Ms Greenwood says that Joey, who still wears a neck collar since the traumatic event, has recovered very well.

"He was back talking a few days after he came home. We couldn't believe that he was even able to do that at this stage. I believe most of his injuries were incurred when he was zipped up inside the hold all along with the other two birds and the snakes. When I came into the shop the next morning there were feathers everywhere and what the police say was animal blood on the floor."

Valerie has been running what was once her husband's pet shop since 1991. As well as selling pet supplies Ms Greenwood's business also breeds a variety of animals including gerbils, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits to name but a few. Despite the fact the 71-year-old has been the victim of not one but four different robberies in the past, Ms Greenwood plays her success and determination down to her optimistic attitude in life and meeting the customers that come into her shop.

Valerie said: "It's been 25 years now and I think the best part of it all is meeting the customers that come into the shop. This job is not just about serving people. I have always been an optimistic person, even when Joey came back to me the last time in such a state. Being optimistic has helped me greatly. The shop is just such a nice place to be with the animals "