New Video - Meet Louie U2, Popeye, Pookie, & BB

[FoxersArtist]

Louie is a an umbrella cockatoo who just arrived today.
We thought he was going to be a problem bird as he just screamed and screamed once his owner left but then I realized that his cage was in front of a window, so I moved it and all was well again. Louie talks more than any other U2 I have worked with and has already said a whole bunch of things. When you tell him "Louie, No hands!" he grabs the cage with his beak and holds both feet in front of him to show you that he can hold on with no hands! What a riot! He is pretty friendly and someone will have a real treasure when they find him.

Here is a video of most of the new fosters, except Daisy who is seperate from these guys to keep her away from Popeye. Pookie says a few things in the video like "Come here!" "Give me a kiss" and "Bedtime." She's such a hammy grey. Bonnie is super excited to meet her tomorrow. If Bonnie gets to take her, I know she will be appreciative of a nice new cage that isn't old and peeling and some new toys - though her owners insisted that she needed her bell for comfort. Acording to her owner, Pookie has been in that cage for her whole life...that's 20 some years! BB the amazon even decided to show off a little tonight. I'm sure he will be looking forward to some love from miss bonnie while she is here.

Enjoy the video...sorry it's so dark.
http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa154/Foxersartist/Birdy%20Videos/?action=view&current=MOV04846.flv
-Anna

[Anne-Samantha's Mom]

wow anna..she is gorgeous...how could anyone give her up? it never ceases to amaze me..sounds like a real circus over there!!

[too&me]

What characters, just beautiful birds I love that stretch and yawn.

[birdie]

I'll never understand why people just give their birds away. How can they live with them for so many years and look into those eyes and just send them away?
Louie looks like a character, they all look like alot of fun!

[FoxersArtist]

I actually have taken quite a bit of time to consider this very question recently as my health became so bad that I was hardly doing my birds justice and considered cutting down our flock. Their basic needs were met but beyond that I know they were not getting the care that they needed and I felt totally powerless to do anything about it as I felt drained from the time I got up until I went to bed. I decided to hang in there as long as possible and hope that a cure would come, but I know for some people a cure isn't around the corner and many of those people are the ones we work with.

I believe doing bird rescue is just as much about working with people - many who care very deeply for their birds and are giving their birds to us because they know that their bird will end up in a good place through us. If I can ever be half as great as the people who gave up the birds in this video, I will live an accomplished life. They had a total of 8 birds and gave up 4 of them because they both have health situations similar to what mine had become. They sat with each of these birds and just cried when they had to say goodbye. The heart wrenching and extremely noble and unselfish part about this? They gave up the 4 that were well behaved, well adjusted, and most friendly. They kept the ones they thought would be hardest to place - the ones with issues. They even gave up their first born, a bird that they had from a baby because they knew that bird deserved the very best and would be easy to place. Absolutely astounding that a person would be that selfless.

It's a question that each of us prays we will never have to face. I know there are people out there who really don't care about their birds. You know it when they say goodbye without blinking an eye, almost like they are happy to see the animal go or when they aren't even there to say goodbye. Those are usually the true "rescue" situations. Most of the people we work with have good reasons to rehome their birds and it's so very heartbreaking to stand there and watch them as their world crumbles. Many of them stand in the street while we pull away just looking bewildered. Many of them grab me and cry on my shoulder. Many of them turn the other way and run as fast as they can just so they do not have to stand there another moment. It makes me want to hug my birds when I get home and never let them go. At the same time, I hope that I am brave enough to let go if any one of my birds would do better somewhere else. I really look up to people like the owners of the birds shown here. :smiles:
-Anna


I'll never understand why people just give their birds away. How can they live with them for so many years and look into those eyes and just send them away?
Louie looks like a character, they all look like alot of fun!

[Anne-Samantha's Mom]

THAT WAS very very touching Anna...I feel like crying with them too...awww

[too&me]

True so true, your family and the birds you help are blessed indeed. It is those unwanted birds living in garages and closets who spend their lives in less than happy homes that I spend time thinking about. Hugs to the brave couple who put their birds joy and comfort above their own.

[birdie]

Wow. I feel bad for asking the question, but worse for hearing the answer. That just tears my heart out but gives good insite on the other side of rehoming. Thank you for sharing that.
I've been dealing with a tooth ache the past couple of days and so my flock hasn't been getting the attention they should be but I make sure they are each getting a good cuddle session and they know they are loved. When we go lay on the bed to cuddle they know momma isn't feeling up to par and they just sit there with me.


I actually have taken quite a bit of time to consider this very question recently as my health became so bad that I was hardly doing my birds justice and considered cutting down our flock. Their basic needs were met but beyond that I know they were not getting the care that they needed and I felt totally powerless to do anything about it as I felt drained from the time I got up until I went to bed. I decided to hang in there as long as possible and hope that a cure would come, but I know for some people a cure isn't around the corner and many of those people are the ones we work with.

I believe doing bird rescue is just as much about working with people - many who care very deeply for their birds and are giving their birds to us because they know that their bird will end up in a good place through us. If I can ever be half as great as the people who gave up the birds in this video, I will live an accomplished life. They had a total of 8 birds and gave up 4 of them because they both have health situations similar to what mine had become. They sat with each of these birds and just cried when they had to say goodbye. The heart wrenching and extremely noble and unselfish part about this? They gave up the 4 that were well behaved, well adjusted, and most friendly. They kept the ones they thought would be hardest to place - the ones with issues. They even gave up their first born, a bird that they had from a baby because they knew that bird deserved the very best and would be easy to place. Absolutely astounding that a person would be that selfless.

It's a question that each of us prays we will never have to face. I know there are people out there who really don't care about their birds. You know it when they say goodbye without blinking an eye, almost like they are happy to see the animal go or when they aren't even there to say goodbye. Those are usually the true "rescue" situations. Most of the people we work with have good reasons to rehome their birds and it's so very heartbreaking to stand there and watch them as their world crumbles. Many of them stand in the street while we pull away just looking bewildered. Many of them grab me and cry on my shoulder. Many of them turn the other way and run as fast as they can just so they do not have to stand there another moment. It makes me want to hug my birds when I get home and never let them go. At the same time, I hope that I am brave enough to let go if any one of my birds would do better somewhere else. I really look up to people like the owners of the birds shown here. :smiles:
-Anna

[FoxersArtist]

I don't think you should feel bad for asking the question that you did. Honestly, I wouldn't expect any person to understand all of the things involved in doing rescue/rehome work if they have never been involved with placing birds first hand. Most people see the word "rescue" and assume that all of the animals we take were not loved. Quite the opposite - most were well loved even if their owners did not understand how to give them the best care. Even a bird like Bhodi - I feel very strongly like he may have been over loved, not abused in his past life because he has that spoiled-rotten, over-loved, no-boundaries-put-in-place feel about him. Someone loved that bird into self-distruction.

At the same time, it is for these reasons that I always say that doing rescue is just as much about helping people as it is about helping birds. I have had more people tell me that they would be lost without us because they are so hurt about giving up their birds that they would have been totally useless in trying to find them the right homes themselves. That means the world to us - and though we are so terribly sorry to see birds being seperated from loving families, we feel really confident that we find new homes that are just as good - sometimes better. Birds have a way of telling you where they want to be and I believe that whole heartedly. Even if one in our own flock was unhappy and we knew they would be happier elsewhere, we would do the right thing for the bird.

(BTW - I'm sooo sorry about your toothache, those are the worst! It's almost hard to understand that one little thing can hurt sooooo bad! Does a little heat help or anything else? I hope they can fix you up soon. :( )
-Anna




Wow. I feel bad for asking the question, but worse for hearing the answer. That just tears my heart out but gives good insite on the other side of rehoming. Thank you for sharing that.
I've been dealing with a tooth ache the past couple of days and so my flock hasn't been getting the attention they should be but I make sure they are each getting a good cuddle session and they know they are loved. When we go lay on the bed to cuddle they know momma isn't feeling up to par and they just sit there with me.