When GiGi arrived at Wild at Heart Rescue in Mississippi, the great horned owl was so sick that simply surviving seemed like a struggle.
She had suffered severe head trauma, which the rescue suspected was caused by being hit by a car. GiGi also had a massive concussion, parasites throughout her body and aspergillosis, a serious fungal infection that can affect the respiratory system.
During treatment, she lost an entire pound—a significant amount for a great horned owl, which typically weighs only a few pounds.
But GiGi refused to give up.
Under the care of Jeffrey Pojeky, she slowly began making remarkable progress. The owl went from being critically ill to perching again. She also learned to grab food on her own instead of relying entirely on hand-feeding.
And somewhere along the way, something even more special happened.
GiGi began to trust the man who had cared for her.
According to Wild at Heart founder Missy Dubuisson, she had rarely seen such a strong bond between a bird of prey and a human. GiGi’s behavior made it clear that Pojeky had become someone she felt safe around.
After everything she had endured, the owl seemed determined to show him just how much that trust meant.
Instead of keeping her distance like a wild bird normally might, GiGi became remarkably affectionate toward her caregiver, embracing him in a way that left everyone around them amazed.
For an animal that had arrived alone, badly injured and fighting for her life, finding someone she trusted may have been just as important as the medical treatment that saved her.
GiGi had survived the worst. Now she had someone she never wanted to forget.