Gimpy the Parakeet (please help!)

[lyoness]

I saved a life today...

... now I don't know how to preserve it.
I was doing the daily newspaper changing of the day when I found him. The sick parakeet cage was up high (from my 5'2 perspective, anyway...) and I wasn't able to see the bottom. So I pulled out the tray and out pops a little parakeet. He looked miserable and hobbled back and forth. It broke my heart to realize that he was either A) one of the inbred parakeets we had been recieving so often from some twisted breeder, or B) had broken both his legs. So I kept an eye on him the whole day, only to find that he couldn't get any food, the shallow water dish someone had given him had been pooped in numerous times, he was being picked on by the other birds, he was also pooped on several times as he could not get off the ground, and the only way he could move was by dragging himself along the damp newspaper by his beak and frail little neck. Now I'm not a big parakeet fan, I'd never own one myself but it just made me want to cry how miserable a life he was leading. By the end of the day I was bathing him, handfeeding him seed, millet and holding water bowls up to him. I carried him around with me till he fell asleep, hoping that some customer would have pity on him and give him a good home. After all, other than his feet he seemed perfectly healthy and not to mention pretty.
My manager noticed I was carrying him and made an off-handed comment that went something like this: "Oh, is that the one that can't walk? Give him to the reptile room... he'll be lunch."
I think I about cried then and there. I'm a softy for birds if you can't tell, and although part of me considered that it might be cruel to keep him alive, the other part of me was determined not to let him be snake food.
So I volenteered to take him home, and he was given to me for free. My parents swore up and down I wasn't to bring anymore birds home, but my mom melted the same way I did when I showed her little Gimpy and told her his story. The only catch is I have to find a good home for him in two weeks.
I'm hoping this little guy will pull through. He's upstairs now and bundled into some soft towels with food and water. My original plan was to put together a parakeet setup and give him away for free up at Animal Jungle, but I don't know how crazy they'd be about that.
What concerns me now is that Gimpy may very well not be as healthy as I first thought. He's begining to breath heavily and his tail bobs, and I'm not sure if it's because of his condition or if he's sick. He sleeps a lot, which I would expect him to. Now I'm very worried about my cockatiel, Beatrix, and her well-being. I don't know how to ensure that she won't catch anything from him. Any ideas?
And who thinks it would be better to euthanise (sp?) him? I would hate to do so but if it would mean an end to his pain I'd do it. Is it cruel to keep him alive?

I know I know I know I'm talking about a parakeet here, and I know someone's bound to point out the fact that it is JUST a parakeet and not an CAG or Macaw but I still sympathize for him. So please, if you can help me then do so. I want him to live his short little life happily.

[CKD]

I cant believe they said to give him to the reptile room for dinner. OMG this just makes my blood boil. I would of lost my job because I would of literally knocked this person on their a**. It makes me wonder how many times they have FED unwanted or sick babies to the snakes. I would see who I could contact to get this stopped. I could not work for someone who would do this.

[Monica]

Its JUST a parakeet??? How in the world is it JUST a parakeet??? It is a living, breathing animal with heart, organs, body, skin, everything that we have! Yes, they may be small, they may be able to fly, and they may be cheap, though NO ONE around here on this board will tell you that "its JUST a freakin BIRD!!!"

Honestly, if you can, see what the vets say about the bird, and see if they would be willing to take in a disabled bird to treat, or find a place or someone willing to care for a disabled bird who may be sick. If I were you, I wouldn't give up on this little guy! He deserves a fair try!

The person telling you to put the bird with the reptiles, that's just plain gross! To me, that person might as well have been saying to throw your sick and demented child to the gators just because he couldn't walk right or would never be able to speak right or because maybe he'd have to live in a wheelchair for his entire life!

[Regina U.]

It is NOT just a parakeet! He is as special as any other living thing! Oh I am just sick over what your manager said to do. That is horrible! :eusa_wall
I agree with Monica, no one here would say anything like that!

I am so glad you saved him. You are a very caring person. What a horrible life he has had so far. You need to get him to a vet. Can you afford to take him to the vet? Is there a vet that works with the store, that may agree to treat him for free or a minimal cost?

Keep him seperated from Beatrix, until he has been vet checked.

Regina

[Joel]

Lyoness.....I personally would NOT have him euthanized if I were in your position, unless he is in unbearable pain with no chance of recovery at all. I would definitely take (asap) to an Avian Vet (& like was mentioned, I'm sure you could get a discount with the A.V. who works with your shop) and get his/her opinion on chances of recovery. If he is sick, some appropriate meds should not be that expensive, at least not from a compassionate vet - if there is such a creature (NOT! - IME only).....If he is also crippled somewhat, I'm sure that same experienced A.V. (with same big heart) can possibly give you the best advice on how to make it's life the best possible, for it's remaining days. Most however (IME) will suggest to end its life, probably.......I also agree with what was said already relating to not being able to work for a shop that does what you say they do. Personally I could not even work for a shop that handled snakes etc. that had to be fed live mice etc.....Best of luck to the lil one......

Btw, if you send me your mailing address (in a pm), I will send something towards its "avian vet" bill....... In return, I would like you to have the avian vet write out (print if necessary) everything clearly, to include diagnosis, prognosis and medications, doses etc. and put that up on the board for all of us to learn from. Pics would be nice also..... Just trying to help the poor helpless lil thing make it.......Good luck and it is wonderful that you have such a warm heart. :)

Originally Posted by lyoness

I saved a life today...

... now I don't know how to preserve it.
I was doing the daily newspaper changing of the day when I found him. The sick parakeet cage was up high (from my 5'2 perspective, anyway...) and I wasn't able to see the bottom. So I pulled out the tray and out pops a little parakeet. He looked miserable and hobbled back and forth. It broke my heart to realize that he was either A) one of the inbred parakeets we had been recieving so often from some twisted breeder, or B) had broken both his legs. So I kept an eye on him the whole day, only to find that he couldn't get any food, the shallow water dish someone had given him had been pooped in numerous times, he was being picked on by the other birds, he was also pooped on several times as he could not get off the ground, and the only way he could move was by dragging himself along the damp newspaper by his beak and frail little neck. Now I'm not a big parakeet fan, I'd never own one myself but it just made me want to cry how miserable a life he was leading. By the end of the day I was bathing him, handfeeding him seed, millet and holding water bowls up to him. I carried him around with me till he fell asleep, hoping that some customer would have pity on him and give him a good home. After all, other than his feet he seemed perfectly healthy and not to mention pretty.
My manager noticed I was carrying him and made an off-handed comment that went something like this: "Oh, is that the one that can't walk? Give him to the reptile room... he'll be lunch."
I think I about cried then and there. I'm a softy for birds if you can't tell, and although part of me considered that it might be cruel to keep him alive, the other part of me was determined not to let him be snake food.
So I volenteered to take him home, and he was given to me for free. My parents swore up and down I wasn't to bring anymore birds home, but my mom melted the same way I did when I showed her little Gimpy and told her his story. The only catch is I have to find a good home for him in two weeks.
I'm hoping this little guy will pull through. He's upstairs now and bundled into some soft towels with food and water. My original plan was to put together a parakeet setup and give him away for free up at Animal Jungle, but I don't know how crazy they'd be about that.
What concerns me now is that Gimpy may very well not be as healthy as I first thought. He's begining to breath heavily and his tail bobs, and I'm not sure if it's because of his condition or if he's sick. He sleeps a lot, which I would expect him to. Now I'm very worried about my cockatiel, Beatrix, and her well-being. I don't know how to ensure that she won't catch anything from him. Any ideas?
And who thinks it would be better to euthanise (sp?) him? I would hate to do so but if it would mean an end to his pain I'd do it. Is it cruel to keep him alive?

I know I know I know I'm talking about a parakeet here, and I know someone's bound to point out the fact that it is JUST a parakeet and not an CAG or Macaw but I still sympathize for him. So please, if you can help me then do so. I want him to live his short little life happily.

[lyoness]

Thanks to all who replied. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks what my manager did was cruel and that this guy deserves a chance to live. Thank you so much, Joel, for your offer but I can use my last few pay checks to pay for his vet bill. Still, it was very considerate of you and for that I thank you a million times over. :icon_smil Just knowing that I'm not alone in wanting to save Gimpy is enough. I resigned today, by the way. I loved working with the birds but after I found out a baby cockatiel I had been working with died without seeing a vet I lashed out a tad bit at my manager and told her on the spot that I quit. It was probably a bad idea to tell her off but I was still sore about Gimpy and my anger got the best of me. I'm going to take him to the vet to see if there's anything we can do about his legs and whether or not he's sick tommorrow. I'm crossing my fingers that they can splint his legs or something, and if not I'll just accomodate a little cage so it' s handy-cap accessible. I'll post pictures within the next day or two of Gimpy, so be on the look-out.
Thanks again!

[Joel]

You are truly a special person Lyoness. I'm sorry you had to lose your/a source of income but I admire you for speaking up. I'm sure however that anyone with a heart would be proud to have you as an employee of theirs so finding another similar position (if that is your desire) will probably be easy to do. Good luck......Also if you change your mind on accepting some help for the lil one, just post on the board or pm me.....How old do you think Gimpy is?

Originally Posted by lyoness

Thanks to all who replied. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks what my manager did was cruel and that this guy deserves a chance to live. Thank you so much, Joel, for your offer but I can use my last few pay checks to pay for his vet bill. Still, it was very considerate of you and for that I thank you a million times over. :icon_smil Just knowing that I'm not alone in wanting to save Gimpy is enough. I resigned today, by the way. I loved working with the birds but after I found out a baby cockatiel I had been working with died without seeing a vet I lashed out a tad bit at my manager and told her on the spot that I quit. It was probably a bad idea to tell her off but I was still sore about Gimpy and my anger got the best of me. I'm going to take him to the vet to see if there's anything we can do about his legs and whether or not he's sick tommorrow. I'm crossing my fingers that they can splint his legs or something, and if not I'll just accomodate a little cage so it' s handy-cap accessible. I'll post pictures within the next day or two of Gimpy, so be on the look-out.
Thanks again!

[TooLover]

Wow Lyoness - you truly have a heart of gold! I am with Joel and will help in any way, financially, that I can. It isn't JUST a parakeet - God bless you and your kind heart!

[Regina U.]

You truely are a special person. I too am sorry you lost your job, however, I think what you did to take a stand was wonderful! :eusa_clap How horrible that a little baby cockatiel had to die without vet care. That manager should be fired! You would be an excellent employee for a bird store that really cares. Please let us know how Gimpy makes out at the vet tomorrow. I too would help if you need it. Thank you for saving Gimpy! :icon_smil

Regina

[The Outlaw]

Is this the same bird store that had its pictures posted a few days ago? If so, please, what's the name? We shall make sure it doesn't get our business.

THE OUTLAW