Tag Archives: Adopt Don’t Shop

Remembering Lera

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I like to celebrate our “rainbow” budgies on what would have been their hatchdays. Today would have been Lera’s. This year I decided to make videos to look back on our happy memories.

Feisty, curious and adorable. That was our little Lera.
We found Lera on Craigslist in 2014. Her owner was going off to college, and the family was looking for someone to adopt her.
After her quarantine, she joined the flock, and wasted no time showing everybudgie who was boss.
Lera loved baths, toys, cauliflower and getting into everything.
Unfortunately, Lera had issues with her health. She had to have regular beak trims, and in her later years with us, would visit our avian vet occasionally to have fluid withdrawn from her abdomen. None of this slowed her down in any way.
Lera was doted on by Gordie, then later Harvey and Felix. And of course, her humans. Lera packed a lot of personality into a tiny body and we loved her very much – we were so lucky to have found her.
If you are looking to add a budgie to your family, please consider adopting. There are some amazing little budgies out there who need a happily ever after.

Introducing Tippi!

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On January 19th, the night we brought Cooper’s ashes home,
I looked at the adoptable animals page on the San Diego Humane Society site and saw a little green budgie who needed a new home. Emmy was now an only budgie and Sido (our cockatiel) was not open to being her new friend. We knew that Emmy would need a companion.

The next day we went to pick her up. She had been found outdoors and was brought in by a good Samaritan. She was very thin when she was brought in, so she received vet care at the shelter. Ten days later she was put up for adoption as no one had claimed her.
In her photo she looked older, but when we brought her home we saw she had some faint baby bars. Tippi wasn’t tame, but it didn’t take long for her to step up.

Sadly, Emmy passed away (tumor) before Tippi’s quarantine was over. I’m sure they would have been great friends.

We noticed that Tippi was a little splay legged, so we took her to our own avian vet for a checkup and to have her band removed. She received a clean bill of health, and her legs have improved with time.

Tippi has been with us 6 months now and she is a darling. I like to think that Cooper sent her to us. I don’t know that Tippi will be a “poser”, but it will be fun sharing her photos with you.

National Bird Day

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Is it “Adopt, don’t shop” or “Don’t shop, adopt”?
Either way, Cooper wants to spread the message on National Bird Day that there are birds out there looking for new homes.
If you are considering adding a bird to your family, please check your local rescues, shelters, Craigslist, etc. for birds that are looking for a happily ever after. 💙

Abandoned

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Last week a small flock of budgies were found on a Laguna Niguel trail. Mission Viejo Animal Services arrived and rounded up the budgies. The budgies were not able to fly and some appeared to have been injured by large birds.

Photo: City of Mission Viejo

The birds were fed and given water, given names and examined. They will be put up for adoption.

Photo: City of Mission Viejo

If you should find yourself unable to care for your birds, please do not set them free. Budgies are not likely to survive in the wild. Finding food and water is problematic, and they are likely to be attacked by animals and other birds.
Taking them to a shelter or rescue is their best chance for finding a safe, happy home.

Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG

You can read more about the budgies here.

Introducing Riley!

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Last March I happened upon an adoption notice from the San Diego Humane Society. A budgie was brought in by a Good Samaritan with a horrible case of mites. As soon as I saw this little one’s photo, I knew we would be adding to our flock.

After a couple weeks of care from the shelter’s vets, Moonshine was ready for adoption. We brought her home on April 1st. We decided to rename her Riley, because now this tiny bird would be “living the life of Riley”.
Poor Riley was a mess. Her beak was overgrown and had a honeycomb appearance and she had growths on her face. She had frond-like growths on her feet and was missing some toenails and toe tips. She was also missing feathers around her eyes and had bare patches on her wings.
We kept her in a separate room for her (extended) quarantine period. Riley took some time to finger tame. She will now step up, but we still have a way to go before she is completely comfortable with her humans.

Since bringing Riley home, she has been to our avian vet for a full examination and repeated beak trimmings. The growths on her feet eventually dropped off, as did her facial growths. Her beak and cere have greatly improved. We still take her in every three weeks or so for a lower beak trim.

Riley hasn’t discovered her toys yet, but she has started to sing and chirp along with the other birds. She has also started to eat her fruits, veggies and greens. She is camera shy, and I can only get photos of her right side. When she steps up, she immediately turns to her right side. I’m wondering if this is a quirk, or if she might have some vision problems – something to ask the vet on our next visit.

Our “Smiley Riley” is a sweet little bird, and I’m hoping she will live a long, healthy and happy life with us. She is definitely a prime example of why it is best to “Adopt, not shop”.

I Am Happy, I Am Loved…

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Comic strip by Jenny Jinya.

This is the sad reality for many pet birds. If you want to add a budgie to your family,  do your research.
First, consider adopting. If your budgie will be spending most of its day alone, bring home two. Budgies are flock animals and need a friend. Budgies are noisy. Budgies are messy. Despite being inexpensive to buy, a budgie’s vet bills can be very expensive. Budgies require fresh food, which can be costly and take time to prepare. Some budgies require a lot of time and patience to tame. Budgies need stimulation – this means new toys (ours go through them quickly). Budgies need large, spacious cages. Budgies are a commitment, not a passing fancy. Please keep your budgie happy and loved.

 

From the artist:

Clear the Shelters

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The annual Clear the Shelters Drive is this month.

Here is Ozzie when we brought him home from the animal shelter in 2012.
He had been attacked by a cat in someone’s yard. A good Samaritan brought him to the shelter where he was patched up. You can see he is missing his tail feathers.

Here is Ozzie today. Ozzie is a dream budgie. He loves to answer you when you talk to him. He is friend to everybirdie – and is the first to welcome a new budgie. He sets a good example by eating all his veggies. When he is ready to go to bed he hops up on his swing. Ozzie is such a sweet boy and is very patient when his humans give him too many kisses.

If you are looking to add a feathered friend to your family, please consider adopting.

Adopt a Rescued Bird Month

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Ozzie, Alfie and Sido were all adopted from our local rescues and Sunny, Emmy, Gordie, Lera, Felix and Harvey are all rehomed (Craigslist). They have brought so much joy and love into our lives.
If you are thinking of adding a bird to your family, please consider adopting. These birds have so much to give and deserve a second chance at a loving, forever home.