MEET Gizmo – the titchy-tiny owl who, thanks to his first owner can’t fly, and who still cranes his neck constantly after being kept in a cat basket on a garage for the first two years of his life.

Gizmo, who loves to be petted, is one of lots of owls at Cross Keys in Salisbury on many dates in the run-up to Christmas.

He and his friends have been brought to Salisbury to promote the work of Soft Landings Animal Aid Association, which rescues hundreds of birds each year and cares for them in a sanctuary in Bournemouth.

Gizmo’s sorry tale is far from unique, says Deb Savage from the rescue.

“Harry Potter was the bane of our lives,” she said. “Suddenly everyone wanted a pet owl and had no idea how to care for them.

“They need lots and lots of space, they need to fly and be cleaned every day – you can’t keep them in your house.

“Gizmo may never be able to fly more than 6ft and his feet are flat from being in a tiny cat cage with only a slit at the top to see through, which is why he cranes his neck still.

“He is a Southern white-faced Scops owl, and they can live for 25-30 years. People get them from selling websites and then can’t cope.”

For £2 you can hold an owl at Cross Keys from 10am-4pm today and tomorrow, Friday, November 28, Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7, Thursday to Saturday, December 11-13, Saturday and Sunday, December 20-21 and Monday and Tuesday, December 22 and 23.

The rescue takes in all sorts of birds, from budgies to birds of prey, and offer educational workshops in schools.

Go to www.softlanding.org.uk for more on the charity.