My animal care instructor knew the trainer who trained the owl who played the role of Hedwig in the Harry Potter movies. Incidentally, she also played all of the other owls in the films...she was used as the model for the GGI. Then all the other images were altered to show different sizes, colors, and conditions of owls (remember poor Errol?)

Also, in the picture, Harry seems to be handling Hedwig without using an arm guard for protection against her talons. According to Hedwig's trainer, Daniel Radcliff wore the arm guard under his costume and had extensive training for that scene. Owls are high maintenence, extremely complicated animals to keep (I later had the priveledge to work with some in another class.) They eat smaller animals such as mice, and if you are not prepared to feed them that, you should not have them. Also they are nocturnal so be prepared to lose some sleep. And they need to fly. As Harry pleaded with his uncle, "If I could just let her out for an hour or two..."

Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | August 26, 2009 05:07 PM

I can't believe that people still can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality. I mean, anyone with half a brain could tell you that just because something may work in a movie or on television, that it's going to work in real life. Get a damn clue people!

Posted by: Olivia | August 26, 2009 06:10 PM

I would agree with PETA on this, I'm a falconer and have been one for 15 years. Owls are fairly low maintenance but compared to other pets, they are a chore.

Posted by: Jason | August 26, 2009 07:29 PM

The people who attend movies and then abruptly purchase an animal featured in the movie are a bit intellectually challenged. When they abandon the animal they are morally impoverished.

Posted by: Brien Comerford | August 26, 2009 08:11 PM

I almost fell into this too. I am so glad I didnt. Owls are very difficult to keep and need to be free. I on the other hand settled for Homing Pigeons, who still require tons of work (I am with mine 2-6 hours a day) they can exersise freely and are domesticated, unlike Owls.

Posted by: Alicia | August 27, 2009 09:29 AM

Absent from these comments is a simple fact. Owls are wild animals. Wild animals need to be in the wild. Pretty obvious.

They are not "difficult to keep" or "maintenance" NOT companion animals. Animals like chickens, cats and dogs have become accustomed to being feed by people.

Owls are magnificent, magical creatures. Who would be stupid enough to buy one because of a FANTASY movie. And who would be
criminal evough to capture owls to sell them? These poachers should be prosecuted immediately. And those that bought owls? Look up fiction and non-fiction in the dictionary. And check out the rest of PETA to learn to respect wild animals

Posted by: Rosa | August 27, 2009 12:41 PM

JK Rowling has also spoken out on this issue. She is constantly reminding people that her stories are of course fictional, and that people shouldn't be running out to buy pet owls, because they are wild animals that only highly trained experts should be handling and caring for owls. Its just like with any animal, people don't do their research and prepare themselves before taking an animal into their home.

Posted by: April | August 27, 2009 12:51 PM

I think the more important question is WHY the U.K. doesn’t have better laws in place to ban the selling, breeding and purchasing of birds of pray and other exotic animals. Simply Terrible!
JMH, Michigan

Posted by: Joanne | August 27, 2009 01:29 PM

Normally, I'm not one to speak out on this site. I'm not a vegitarian, but I also disagree with alot of cruelty/treatment of animals.

This however is just sheer stupidity much akin to when 101 dalmations came out. Who in their right minds would sell an animal to a person who was obviously only in it because of fandom. If the parent mentioned HP at any point during the transaction it should have been void.

I find it rather amusing that the "Nanny State" doesn't have at the very least some type of training or educational course to let people know what they're in for

Posted by: Ben | August 27, 2009 11:04 PM

Snowy owls come from my country. There they are respected wild animals. No-one would think of having one at home. Please do not try to rear one.

The UK should have strict laws to prohibit this. MP:s, over to you.

Posted by: Ii | August 28, 2009 09:00 AM

On the subject of raptors, my wife saw an injured hawk on the side of the road in rural Iowa, and luckily we found a raptor rehabilitation center about 75 miles away who gladly accepted the responsibility of caring for the hawk...if we caught it and drove it to them.

One big winter coat and cardboard box later, and "Feathers," as my son named it was on its way to the rehab center. I think that only its wing was broken, so hopefully Feathers will do well!

Posted by: Derek, MD | August 31, 2009 12:01 PM