Elle
04-12-2006, 05:05 PM
Danny and I were finishing a really nice 4 day weekend. Danny thought I was bored this afternoon and dragged me to a mall I never went to. As we walked in, we saw a pet store. I thought great! Let’s have a look at the bird toys they have and look at the birds for a few minutes.
As I was looking at the toys, Danny called me. He asked me if I thought that pretty little yellow bird looked injured to me. I took one look, then a second look and I agreed. It had a beak injury. Never mind the cut under the nostril and the scratches on the yellow bird’s legs! The beak looked broken to me.
I took a look inside the cage and noticed two other birds cuddled on the top perch of the cage. My first thought was: "Who in their right mind puts 3 lovebirds in the same cage. Are they idiots or what?" Danny and I discussed the living arrangements of these poor birds and went to see one of the employees who had no answer to our questions and concerns. He went to get the manager for us.
We spoke to the manager and explained you cannot put three birds in one cage. One will get hurt like that poor little yellow birdie. The manager advised us there were four birds in the cage until Monday or sometime Sunday. The yellow bird's mate (or companion) was killed by one of the aggressive birds. We then explained again that they CANNOT leave that bird in there like that. It needs antibiotics and it should be checked by a vet. The manager told us that he would pull the bird out today. We waited, and waited. When he realized that we weren't going anywhere and one of the other two lovebirds started attacking this pretty yellow little bird, the manager went get another cage.
When he opened the cage to take it out, it flew right at him. She wanted out. The little yellow bird probably knew she would not last the week in there. Once she was out, I asked to see her. I had a closer look at her beak and it was definitely broken on the lower mandible, on her right side with cuts and scratches everywhere.
As the manager was getting her set up in her cage, he asked Danny and I if we had time to look after it. We said yes, we have time but not the money. We know that this bird needs to get to a vet, get some antibiotics and check up after that. That's a given and a big expense. Then Danny dragged me out of there. The firefighter in him kicked in. He was on a mission to save a life. We talked, and talked, and talked some more about what it would mean to take this poor little bird home. We discussed the impact it would have on our household and mostly on Blu. We reasoned it out and we both agreed we CANNOT save all the little birdies that we find that are injured or in need of a good home. BUT, we should know which ones we can save. And Miss little yellow birdie is one of them. We knew the pet store would write off that bird as a loss. Business is business, right?
So we went back to the pet store. By that time the yellow bird was in the manager's office. We went to him and asked him how much he would want for it (we were ready to pay $50 for it; Original price was $90). He looked at us and told us: "Look, it's not that I don't care about the birds. I care a lot and so do my staff. Unfortunately, my job doesn't give me the time to treat that bird. Since you have the time and the willingness to look after it, I am giving it to you." Fair enough. He did the right thing.
From there, we rushed home and made a call to Danny's parents. We were supposed to be on our way there for supper. We advised them we would be late. We then made a call to the vet's office. They could see us in an hour. What about supper, though? So we packed little yellow birdie. She was in her temporary cage. We wrapped her up, took her to the car, went over to Danny's parents, had supper and rushed out the door. I am thankful that my parents in law are very understanding and caring people. From their place, we rushed to the vet. We ended being late but it was not a big deal since they had a lot of bird emergencies going on at the time. Apparently, with mating season on its way, they have an increase of injured birds coming in. Most are being attacked by other birds, including their mates.
When we finally saw the vet, she had a look at the beak. She said the break was nasty, beak breaks are never nice. But that little bird is very lucky. The break occurred in a good location where chances are it will heal very well. The location should prevent scissor beak and other deformations. No injuries to the tongue so we are doing well. Nasty scratches everywhere and a little bit of infection. With proper antibiotics this should heal very well.
Little yellow birdie weighs 52 grams. She is alert, vibrant eyes, nice feathering. She is injured. Not sick. She should have a full recovery. In the mean time, we have 14 days of Baytril twice a day and Metacam, a pain killer, once a day. Little yellow birdie was eating millet that was in the cage, poop looked okay and she was drinking water at the store. So she's not doing badly at all.
So right now, she is in our bedroom getting some rest. She is stressed and I think I can understand why. There has been a lot of action in her life today, and the last 72 hours.
As far as the pet store goes, Danny and I were ready to call the SPCA. But the manager did do the right thing at the end. Word of mouth will be our most powerful tool right now. It happens that the store owner (not manager) goes to church with my parents in law. They are sure to hear about the way this little yellow birdie was treated.
In the mean time, I would like to introduce our newest addition, Phoebe.
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2107433422
As I was looking at the toys, Danny called me. He asked me if I thought that pretty little yellow bird looked injured to me. I took one look, then a second look and I agreed. It had a beak injury. Never mind the cut under the nostril and the scratches on the yellow bird’s legs! The beak looked broken to me.
I took a look inside the cage and noticed two other birds cuddled on the top perch of the cage. My first thought was: "Who in their right mind puts 3 lovebirds in the same cage. Are they idiots or what?" Danny and I discussed the living arrangements of these poor birds and went to see one of the employees who had no answer to our questions and concerns. He went to get the manager for us.
We spoke to the manager and explained you cannot put three birds in one cage. One will get hurt like that poor little yellow birdie. The manager advised us there were four birds in the cage until Monday or sometime Sunday. The yellow bird's mate (or companion) was killed by one of the aggressive birds. We then explained again that they CANNOT leave that bird in there like that. It needs antibiotics and it should be checked by a vet. The manager told us that he would pull the bird out today. We waited, and waited. When he realized that we weren't going anywhere and one of the other two lovebirds started attacking this pretty yellow little bird, the manager went get another cage.
When he opened the cage to take it out, it flew right at him. She wanted out. The little yellow bird probably knew she would not last the week in there. Once she was out, I asked to see her. I had a closer look at her beak and it was definitely broken on the lower mandible, on her right side with cuts and scratches everywhere.
As the manager was getting her set up in her cage, he asked Danny and I if we had time to look after it. We said yes, we have time but not the money. We know that this bird needs to get to a vet, get some antibiotics and check up after that. That's a given and a big expense. Then Danny dragged me out of there. The firefighter in him kicked in. He was on a mission to save a life. We talked, and talked, and talked some more about what it would mean to take this poor little bird home. We discussed the impact it would have on our household and mostly on Blu. We reasoned it out and we both agreed we CANNOT save all the little birdies that we find that are injured or in need of a good home. BUT, we should know which ones we can save. And Miss little yellow birdie is one of them. We knew the pet store would write off that bird as a loss. Business is business, right?
So we went back to the pet store. By that time the yellow bird was in the manager's office. We went to him and asked him how much he would want for it (we were ready to pay $50 for it; Original price was $90). He looked at us and told us: "Look, it's not that I don't care about the birds. I care a lot and so do my staff. Unfortunately, my job doesn't give me the time to treat that bird. Since you have the time and the willingness to look after it, I am giving it to you." Fair enough. He did the right thing.
From there, we rushed home and made a call to Danny's parents. We were supposed to be on our way there for supper. We advised them we would be late. We then made a call to the vet's office. They could see us in an hour. What about supper, though? So we packed little yellow birdie. She was in her temporary cage. We wrapped her up, took her to the car, went over to Danny's parents, had supper and rushed out the door. I am thankful that my parents in law are very understanding and caring people. From their place, we rushed to the vet. We ended being late but it was not a big deal since they had a lot of bird emergencies going on at the time. Apparently, with mating season on its way, they have an increase of injured birds coming in. Most are being attacked by other birds, including their mates.
When we finally saw the vet, she had a look at the beak. She said the break was nasty, beak breaks are never nice. But that little bird is very lucky. The break occurred in a good location where chances are it will heal very well. The location should prevent scissor beak and other deformations. No injuries to the tongue so we are doing well. Nasty scratches everywhere and a little bit of infection. With proper antibiotics this should heal very well.
Little yellow birdie weighs 52 grams. She is alert, vibrant eyes, nice feathering. She is injured. Not sick. She should have a full recovery. In the mean time, we have 14 days of Baytril twice a day and Metacam, a pain killer, once a day. Little yellow birdie was eating millet that was in the cage, poop looked okay and she was drinking water at the store. So she's not doing badly at all.
So right now, she is in our bedroom getting some rest. She is stressed and I think I can understand why. There has been a lot of action in her life today, and the last 72 hours.
As far as the pet store goes, Danny and I were ready to call the SPCA. But the manager did do the right thing at the end. Word of mouth will be our most powerful tool right now. It happens that the store owner (not manager) goes to church with my parents in law. They are sure to hear about the way this little yellow birdie was treated.
In the mean time, I would like to introduce our newest addition, Phoebe.
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2107433422