TGF needs your help WARNING - very sad pics

[gbird]

PARROTS IN PERIL
Your help is urgently needed for dozens of parrots.









Another heartbreaking hoarding intervention took place on September 5 - this time nearly 100 parrots in need of help. TGF was contacted by Table Mountain Animal Center, Golden, CO and Jefferson County, Colorado Code Enforcement (Animal Control) last week about the immediate and voluntary relinquishment of more than 30 birds, part of a 100- plus flock of birds from a woman and her elderly parents. It was six days from the time of TGF's initial response to the bird intake on Wednesday, September 5, 2007.

We received 8 budgerigars, 9 cockatiels, 7 lovebirds - one was presented dead to us, the saddest Quaker we have ever seen and a banded racing pigeon.

Still in limbo, for two weeks longer, are several macaws, a cockatoo, an African Grey, 3 Amazons, Princess of Wales, more budgies, lovebirds, cockatiels and dozens of chickens.

Animal hoarding is a very sad reality which has pathetic consequences for humans and animals. Abuse and neglect cross a fine line, but bottom line is that the birds, like all other animals in these situations, suffer from the human's affliction.

From other Colorado animal shelters we received an Umbrella cockatoo, 3 Quakers, 9 budgies, a lovebird and 7 finches. Then, 2 lost budgies and a lost lovebird found us within the past two weeks. They are still unclaimed.

From two animal cruelty cases (charges not yet filed) we received 4 Greenwing macaws that had been living outside in inhumane and cruel conditions with all 4 (mom, dad and two offspring) housed in one way-too-small cage.

Then, from a couple reported for possible animal cruelty we intervened on behalf of 10 birds and took in 4 macaws, 2 male Eclectus, a Blue front Amazon, a Patagonian, an Umbrella and a Moluccan. (All birds in these two groups were being fed DRY DOG FOOD), and cages from the group of 10 used cat litter for cage substrate. Later, 4 macaws that had been placed in foster care with TGF were abandoned when the owner reclaimed only two of her macaws.

Many local, state and national animal shelters contact The Gabriel Foundation for assistance and help or to transfer their birds. This service provided by TGF was never even mentioned in the Lory cruelty case newspaper article.

Statewide, the foundation has received numerous calls for help from Pitkin County, Eagle County, Denver Dumb Friends League, The Buddy Center, Longmont Humane, Boulder Valley Humane, Larimer County Humane, Table Mountain Animal Center, Denver Municipal Animal Shelter, Jefferson County Code Enforcement, Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region - all for transfer of parrots to the Foundation. Each of these entities receives tax payer and other public funding for their programs - TGF does not.

This recent hoarding situation was not the first brought to TGF for help - it was the 4th in 18 months. These are the situations that we know of; how many lurk behind closed doors? Since euthanasia is not widely practiced for unwanted parrots, where are they all to go when help arrives? TGF still needs to make room for the many birds on its waiting list!

Animal hoarding is a very sad reality which has pathetic consequences for humans and animals. Abuse and neglect cross a fine line, but bottom line is that the birds, like all other animals in these situations, suffer from the human's affliction.

One of the wild birds, for which the Lory owner was charged with two counts of illegal animal possession, died on September 1. Living with a native- species wild bird is illegal, yet living with a parrot, still considered a wild bird, is not.

Latest estimates are that 40 million parrots are kept in US households, third in popularity after cats and dogs. The difference is that parrots may live beyond their 50's - while cats and dogs do not. Surveys show that most parrots have at least 7 homes during their lifetime and nearly 95% of all parrots kept as pets suffer from heart disease, respiratory disease, atherosclerosis, obesity - the same illnesses as humans. Free as a bird? Life spent in a cage is beset with stress for a majority of companion parrots.

The Gabriel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity which operates on funding received through donations, grants, and memberships.

Please help us generate awareness of the need for public support since city, county, state and federal funding for the humane care of parrots and our work does not presently exist. Show us that you care. Help us provide for these birds that need new lives!

Click here to make a donation for the September 2007 Rescued Birds
https://www.thebirdbrain.com/forms/donation.cfm

Lory Rescue Update



"Owner of ill birds charged. Some allegedly died of stress, living in house covered with feces"...September 3, 2007

On the same day, same section (The Denver Post - Owner of ill birds charged), an article on the woman from whom all of the lories were rescued appeared.

This owner was charged with two counts of animal abuse. What was omitted was the fact that all of her 21 birds were placed into the care of The Gabriel Foundation.

This person's extreme neglect was responsible for the deaths of more than half of the birds. This one intake has cost the foundation over $8,000 in medical costs alone for these birds.

One of the wild birds, for which the owner was charged with two counts of illegal animal possession, died on September 1. We are awaiting necropsy results. Living with a native-species wild bird is illegal, yet living with a parrot, still considered a wild bird, is not.

Two of the Blue streaked lories may be coming to the end of their days. The Rainbow lories appear to be stable right now, and Draco, the Black lory, appears stable too. Star, the Plum headed parakeet must be kept separate from all other birds due to testing positive for Avian TB. Gizmo, the valiant Red lory, and first diagnosed with Avian TB, finally succumbed. The two magpies and the remaining lories have not tested positive for Avian TB, and they have been tested repeatedly.

Olive Oyl and Piper, two birds adopted from this group, both appear healthy and tested negative for Avian TB.

Our veterinarians have supervised the continued care of this group of birds to maintain optimal aviary bird health and individual bird well-being. We do know that for the 6 months that these birds have been in TGF's care, they have had the very best life possible except for being back in the wild.

If you would like to help these special needs birds, please do! They need your support.

https://www.thebirdbrain.com/forms/donation.cfm

[sparkysmom]

OMG........

This so completely triggers me. What is wrong with people?

I am sobbing my fool face off now. That pic of the loory.....