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Not being able to care for birds in peril weighs on director, staff
Sybil Erden/Commentary
When I can't help someone, whether person, bird, or other animal - that is the time that the weight of running The Oasis bears down on me.
I used to tell people that I was not worried about the birds that made it here, but that I worried about the ones out there we don't know about. But at this time, in this economy, that has changed. Today I worry about the one's I do hear about but simply cannot help.
I hear about birds who need our help, who are candidates for our program, the ones who need our specialized care --- but until we are able to raise more funds to bring in more staff and build more appropriate housing for the birds, we simply cannot take in all too many of those who are in desperate need of help.
This week alone I heard about several situations I could not help with.
A woman called who was trying to find placement from yet another unsexed, unhandled and unloved Amazon living in terrible conditions. I hope to be able to work with her and the bird in the fall, if our projects are completed and if we have room. But who knows?
A woman called whose 4- year-old male cockatoo had bitten her "too often." He is now languishing, unwanted and undoubtedly confused, in a pet-store boarding facility. When I suggested a reputable nearby adoption program, the woman announced that if she couldn't take care of this bird, no one could. When I tried to suggest options, she became so verbally abusive and hostile I had to hang up. But the bird suffers.
Another woman, recently widowed, about to lose her home, who has taken in handicapped and unwanted birds also called. She needs to place a pair of Macaws with papilloma. There is another pair, older bonded siblings, one of whom has diabetes. Also needing placement are a one-legged conure and another unsexed formerly aggressive (but not to her) Amazon. I am attempting to get the little conure into care with one of The Oasis' volunteers, but I am unsure whether she has room.
Additionally over the past few days I have replied to numerous e-mails from people...some of who had family birds for 20 and 30 years...and needed to find homes or placement options for their beloved animals.
There are people whose family members have died. There are people who are ill. There are people who have lost jobs and or are losing their homes.
When I can't help them, or direct them to a place of safety, not only do the people continue to worry and suffer, but the birds, the innocent ones, suffer the most.
In the past I would "triage," assess the situation and the needs for the people and the parrots. In 90 percent or more of the time would refer to one of the many adoption programs around the country we work with regularly. However, in today's economy all too many of the reputable adoption programs are also full to overflowing, with many having to take back animals they placed in the past due to the caregiver's economic situation.
In this economy, when the sanctuary has no "cushion," no funds in the bank, and there is no available line of credit other than high-rate credit cards when we, like every other family around, are living check to check, hand to mouth, but we have 650 birds and a staff and other animals needing to be fed, 700 souls.
It is at times like these, when the funds are short, my staff is putting in 12-hour days in order to properly care for the birds, while I sit on the phone hearing, again and again, of the suffering of the people and the animals, it is at times like these that the weight bears down.
Sybil Erden is director of The Oasis Sanctuary for exotic birds in Cascabel.
When I can't help someone, whether person, bird, or other animal - that is the time that the weight of running The Oasis bears down on me.
I used to tell people that I was not worried about the birds that made it here, but that I worried about the ones out there we don't know about. But at this time, in this economy, that has changed. Today I worry about the one's I do hear about but simply cannot help.
I hear about birds who need our help, who are candidates for our program, the ones who need our specialized care --- but until we are able to raise more funds to bring in more staff and build more appropriate housing for the birds, we simply cannot take in all too many of those who are in desperate need of help.
This week alone I heard about several situations I could not help with.
A woman called who was trying to find placement from yet another unsexed, unhandled and unloved Amazon living in terrible conditions. I hope to be able to work with her and the bird in the fall, if our projects are completed and if we have room. But who knows?
A woman called whose 4- year-old male cockatoo had bitten her "too often." He is now languishing, unwanted and undoubtedly confused, in a pet-store boarding facility. When I suggested a reputable nearby adoption program, the woman announced that if she couldn't take care of this bird, no one could. When I tried to suggest options, she became so verbally abusive and hostile I had to hang up. But the bird suffers.
Another woman, recently widowed, about to lose her home, who has taken in handicapped and unwanted birds also called. She needs to place a pair of Macaws with papilloma. There is another pair, older bonded siblings, one of whom has diabetes. Also needing placement are a one-legged conure and another unsexed formerly aggressive (but not to her) Amazon. I am attempting to get the little conure into care with one of The Oasis' volunteers, but I am unsure whether she has room.
Additionally over the past few days I have replied to numerous e-mails from people...some of who had family birds for 20 and 30 years...and needed to find homes or placement options for their beloved animals.
There are people whose family members have died. There are people who are ill. There are people who have lost jobs and or are losing their homes.
When I can't help them, or direct them to a place of safety, not only do the people continue to worry and suffer, but the birds, the innocent ones, suffer the most.
In the past I would "triage," assess the situation and the needs for the people and the parrots. In 90 percent or more of the time would refer to one of the many adoption programs around the country we work with regularly. However, in today's economy all too many of the reputable adoption programs are also full to overflowing, with many having to take back animals they placed in the past due to the caregiver's economic situation.
In this economy, when the sanctuary has no "cushion," no funds in the bank, and there is no available line of credit other than high-rate credit cards when we, like every other family around, are living check to check, hand to mouth, but we have 650 birds and a staff and other animals needing to be fed, 700 souls.
It is at times like these, when the funds are short, my staff is putting in 12-hour days in order to properly care for the birds, while I sit on the phone hearing, again and again, of the suffering of the people and the animals, it is at times like these that the weight bears down.
Sybil Erden is director of The Oasis Sanctuary for exotic birds in Cascabel.
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Ernie wrote on Jun 14, 2009 8:06 AM: