The Gabriel Foundation's December Rescues

[birdlady49]

These stories are heartbreaking and I hope that poor macaw stranded in Texas (story below) survives and is able to complete the trip to Colorado. I'm copying and pasting the newsletter I receive from them.

The Gabriel Foundation
Five Urgent Rescues - December 21, 2007

The stories of NoName, Max, Crackers, Gypsy and Gauguin are truly about birds in need. The Amazon and the 4 Blue & Gold macaws entered TGF's Rescue Program because of urgent intervention required by TGF to help them. Their stories have touched us deeply. As the Season of Giving is upon us, we hope that these birds' past experiences will not be the legacy for their future lives. Making this difference IS possible for every one of the birds at The Gabriel Foundation with your donation.


An Amazon with No Name

The call for help came in from a concerned neighbor about the woman next door. The woman's doctor contacted the neighbor to help with his patient's animals. The animals were this patient's life -but something had gone drastically wrong. She was severely ill with a recurring brain tumor and required immediate surgery.

What the neighbor found was a disaster. Dog and cat feces were everywhere. Two parrots were in small cages. One had just remnants of some seed and filthy water in the cage; the other Amazon was already dead -starved to death.

Animal control transported all of the animals to the shelter, but the neighbor wanted us to help the bird. The shelter agreed to hold the dogs in the hope that they can be eventually reunited their owner. With the appropriate Power of Attorney to transfer the bird from the county animal shelter, this Good Samaritan neighbor brought the bird to TGF.

We don't know this bird's name yet - and it isn't telling us so far. To us it's NoName. The bird's been vocal and responding wonderfully to our staff, good food, a huge cage, toys and other birds in quarantine. It's undergone complete lab testing, a physical exam, and right now is far less stressed than just a couple of days ago.

We hope that bird and owner will one day be reunited, but the owner cannot return to her house due to its inhabitable condition. Now, NoName's welfare depends on us all.


Gauguin the B&G macaw

Severe papilloma disease finally endangered this bird's life. Due to a lengthy history with this disease and the bulky and recurring papilloma tissue, traditional treatment was no longer effective.

Gauguin was unable to defecate and the build up of feces and bacteria put him in great pain and danger. His owner spent her savings on multiple surgeries to enlarge his vent and minimize the stricture caused by the disease.

She lost her job recently and could no longer afford the critical veterinary care Gauguin required. She did not want to have him euthanized but she agonized about the cost of care his future would require. With the possibility of transmission to other macaws, she would not jeopardize other birds.

She asked TGF for help. We took a good look at Gauguin - he appeared robust, with excellent plumage, and attitude. TGF intervened and brought Gauguin to live with the four other South American species' birds that have paps: Babby and Rowan, Ozzie and Chico.

Gauguin's relinquisher continues to visit and spend social time with him - grateful that her harsh financial situation and loss did not cost Gauguin his life.

Please help us provide the necessary veterinary care and support that is essential to Gauguin's continued quality of life.


Max, Crackers & Gypsy

Less than two weeks ago, we received a plea from Northern California for emergency intervention for these macaws, aged 15 to 32.

The caller's sister was severely ill and hospitalized. The birds had not been well cared for a long time. Their owner had been very sick for some time. The cages were filthy, the birds were terribly stressed, hungry and in mediocre condition. They'd never been to a vet, had no one to support them, transport them, or even continue to care about them long term. We agreed to help, creating a budget for carriers, airline transport, veterinary care, laboratory testing, and underwriting at $50/month per bird.

We put out a plea for help to PetSmart Charities and to the Petco Foundation - no, they could not help. These birds didn't qualify for aid from Petfinder.

Time was running out. Thankfully, the Animal Assistance Foundation granted us $1800 in emergency funding on 12/13/07. The Medical Center for Birds in Oakley, CA agreed to provide veterinary care and more. They'd shop for the carriers, take the birds to the airport, pay for the shipping and invoice us. Everything had to be paid up front - a big cash outlay and a lot of time necessary to get the job done.

On Monday, December 17, the birds were taken to Continental Cargo for transport from Oakland to Houston to Denver, scheduled to arrive at 10:30 PM.

At 5:30 PM, we received an alarming call from Continental in Houston - one of the macaws was at the bottom of the carrier, lying on its side and unresponsive. The caller had directed a heater at the bird, but she could not tell me if the bird was still alive.

Hearing this news was horrible - we were 1000 miles away. Following protocol, airline personnel contacted an emergency veterinary service and an animal transporter to get the bird emergency veterinary care.

When we contacted the emergency clinic, we were told that the bird would not be seen until the following morning despite the information provided to us from Continental. We told the airlines and the emergency clinic that the bird would be dead by morning unless it was seen immediately by a veterinarian, if it was even still alive.

We wanted the macaw to go to Gulf Coast Avian and Exotics for emergency care. The decision was up to the animal transporter. We begged him to take the bird to our vet of choice. After explaining the gravity of the situation, he finally agreed, and an additional $135 was charged to us for the 45 minute drive.

We had alerted Megan Baebler, DVM to the situation. After arrival at the avian and exotics emergency clinic, we learned that the bird was Gypsy, a 28-32 y.o. severely feather plucked B&G. Her body temperature was down to just 80◦ from the normal 103- 105◦. Hypothermia, shock and seizures put her life in danger. 6, 12, 24 and now 96 hours later - Gypsy's still alive.

She's lost about 20 grams per day since Monday evening, and comprehensive testing is still inconclusive. She remains hospitalized in Houston pending transition care or being flown to Denver. These lifesaving measures have been costly.

Help us and give generously for Gypsy's well-being. We will provide updates about Gypsy's condition as they develop. Meanwhile, we need your support and well-wishes for Gypsy.
Every one of these birds depended on humans to provide for them. The reasons for their caretaker's failure to provide for the birds are heart-wrenching and familiar.

Could these tragedies happen to any of us? Of course. It is up to us to provide for our parrots' well- being no matter what happens to us. When we fail to make lifetime arrangements for our birds, they may suffer - just like these five birds through no fault of their own.

If you want to learn more about the Gabriel Foundation or make a donation or sponsor one of the birds: The Gabriel Foundation®

[wgjgrits]

What a wonderful place for these birds to be!! It is a shame for any animal to be in horrid conditions for whatever reason. I have never personally visited there, but the pics, the staff, and conditions are top notch.

We have a family membership at TGF, and recently adopted the two 3 yr old greenwings that were in the same cage as the parents that were rescued a few months ago. What wonderful personalities they have, and fit right in with the rest of our flock. We have a Hy (Uncle Jed) rehomed, Scarlett (Ellie Mae), B&G (Jethro), and our newest additions, GW (Granny) adpoted TGF, and GW (Duke) adopted TGF.

I would definitely recommend to all that have birds, big or small, or ones thinking about getting a companion bird check out their site and take advantage of all they offer especially The Birdie Basics Class. It was amazing for us to learn sooo much updated info and how much info on the internet is not realiable. I can't say enough about this program and how wonderful the instructors are.

Let's do all we can to give our birds the best they deserve, if you want a bird you can help by adoption from TGF, if you really want a bird and can't have one for whatever reason consider sponsoring a bird there that really is in need of your help and get the updates about the bird.

Wendy