Cross Post; Bird Sanctuary Update

[Graehstone]

This is a letter from the Gabriel Foundation stating they are taking control of the flock of birds from The New England Exotic Bird Sanctuary (the discussion with the horrible pics we have been writing about for a week). Those of you who are members of the Gabriel Foundation, I'm sure you will receive the same letter. Those of you who are not, and would like to help, here is a copy of the letter...





The Gabriel Foundation
November 15, 2004

Dear Supporters of Parrot Welfare,

Your help is urgently needed!
Birds in Massachusetts are in dire need of assistance!
The Gabriel Foundation has again been asked to provide assistance with a large group of parrots currently housed in a rescue and sanctuary facility on the East coast, the New England Exotic Bird Sanctuary (NEEBS).
NEEBS has had many complaints lodged against it in the past. You may see the horrific conditions found at this facility at: http://mysite.verizon.net/resoj0ns/neebs2.html Be warned - these are graphic photos. If you are interested in reading the entire history of this case, click here. Many people have expressed a willingness to offer direct financial and hands-on assistance to help the NEEBS birds with shelter, veterinary, health and other necessities.
By this letter, we are asking for your donations to be sent to a special assistance fund created by The Gabriel Foundation called the Massachusetts Birds Assistance Fund (the "MBAF"). The MBAF will specifically be used to help those NEEBS birds in need of assistance.
If you choose to donate funds to the MBAF, your donation will be placed into a restricted bank account created expressly for this purpose. If you wish to donate items specifically to the MBAF we will shortly post the location where all items should be shipped. We will not be able to provide a donation receipt letter for those items since you will ship them directly to the birds' location. If you wish to purchase items at www.thebirdbrain.com to be shipped to the NEEBS birds, you may do so via The Birdbrain Web site. Just indicate in the "comments" section of your Web order that you wish your purchases to be sent to the MBAF birds.
The Gabriel Foundation's MBAF will be able to provide you with a letter acknowledging your donation along with a copy of your purchase receipt.

Here is how the MBAF will work. MBAF money will not go directly to NEEBS or any of its assigns. If the NEEBS birds are able to be successfully seized and removed from NEEBS' current location by the appropriate authorities, a building is ready to house them for quarantine purposes. Four avian veterinarians in proximity to the NEEBS birds are on standby and have agreed to donate their time to attend to these birds. Also, several veterinary students at Tufts University have agreed to donate their time and assistance.
Any donations you make to the MBAF will be used for required laboratory testing, caging, food, toys and other items as deemed necessary for the NEEBS birds by the attending veterinarians.
If there is a point where the NEEBS birds no longer need assistance, and there are still funds left in the MBAF, The Gabriel Foundation will use such excess funds specifically to provide assistance in similar situations, if and when they arise around the country.


The MBAF will be a "restricted fund" under the charitable gift laws.
As such, The Gabriel Foundation will have a legal obligation under the charitable trust laws to direct the MBAF donations to the specific uses for which they are intended. Donations to the MBAF cannot and will not be used for any Gabriel Foundation overhead, expenditures, salaries, etc. Please note that in order for your donations to the MBAF to be deductible under the income tax laws, we are not allowed to return any donations that you make to the MBAF.

You may make a donation either to the MBAF or to The Gabriel Foundation at our Web site, www.thegabrielfoundation.org and click on "Donation Station", or go to: https://www.thebirdbrain.com/forms/donation.cf m. Please indicate MBAF in the comments section if you want your donation to go to the NEEBS birds.
Your donations to the MBAF will be acknowledged according to the rules of the Internal Revenue Service within 30 days of receipt. Please specify that your donation is for the MBAF when making a donation for this purpose.
Remember that The Gabriel Foundation cannot apply any of your MBAF donations to its own programs. We hope that you will continue to support the parrots and programs of The Gabriel Foundation in addition to your support of the MBAF. Thank you for making a difference.
If you have questions about the MBAF, contact us at MBAF@thegabrielfoundation.org.
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Sincerely,

Julie Weiss Murad, CEO, President & Founder
The Gabriel Foundation