Feathered Friends Matter
When people think of animal sanctuaries, they often think of puppies and kittens, dogs and cats. What people forget are the thousands of other animal species that are bought as pets each year and likewise abandoned by their families.
At Second Chance Rescue, we are keenly aware of the crisis for thousands of birds, reptiles, and rodents that are left with nowhere to go and, quite often, in habitats their bodies are not suited for.
Today, we'd like you to meet a member of our avian family. His name is Thunder, and he is a mature white cockatoo.
Five years ago, he was purchased from a breeder in Texas and shipped north to Montana. The state is known for its harsh, bone-chilling winters; however, this didn't seem to bother Thunder, as he spent his days inside a temperature-controlled environment.
Unfortunately, in just a few months, things would take a turn for the worst.
The family had purchased Thunder because they wanted a talking bird for their guests to enjoy. Due to the little time they actually spent with him, Thunder struggled to speak as well as other birds of his kind. His family grew frustrated and soon he found himself left alone in his cage for days on end with no interaction from the people around him.
When the family moved, they left Thunder behind. With no electricity and no way to care for himself, it seemed the once proud cockatoo would not survive.
Luckily, a homeless man seeking shelter found Thunder in the abandoned house just in time. He was transferred to the local animal control, and that's when our team heard his story and sent volunteers to rescue him.
Thunder was extremely sick at the time of his rescue, and it took months for our care team to help him regain weight. In addition, he had developed a skin infection from plucking out his feathers due to stress.
To learn more about how you can help birds like Thunder, please visit our friends at the Micaboo Companion Bird Rescue.
At Second Chance Rescue, we are keenly aware of the crisis for thousands of birds, reptiles, and rodents that are left with nowhere to go and, quite often, in habitats their bodies are not suited for.
Today, we'd like you to meet a member of our avian family. His name is Thunder, and he is a mature white cockatoo.
Five years ago, he was purchased from a breeder in Texas and shipped north to Montana. The state is known for its harsh, bone-chilling winters; however, this didn't seem to bother Thunder, as he spent his days inside a temperature-controlled environment.
Unfortunately, in just a few months, things would take a turn for the worst.
The family had purchased Thunder because they wanted a talking bird for their guests to enjoy. Due to the little time they actually spent with him, Thunder struggled to speak as well as other birds of his kind. His family grew frustrated and soon he found himself left alone in his cage for days on end with no interaction from the people around him.
When the family moved, they left Thunder behind. With no electricity and no way to care for himself, it seemed the once proud cockatoo would not survive.
Luckily, a homeless man seeking shelter found Thunder in the abandoned house just in time. He was transferred to the local animal control, and that's when our team heard his story and sent volunteers to rescue him.
Thunder was extremely sick at the time of his rescue, and it took months for our care team to help him regain weight. In addition, he had developed a skin infection from plucking out his feathers due to stress.
 |
| Thunder stayed in our director's home while he recovered. |
Today, our Thunder is a happy boy. He spends his days hanging out with friends and showing the other animals in our care his "happy strut" as we call it. He's a healthy, happy bird once more thanks to the efforts of Second Chance Rescue.
 |
| Thunder's Happy Strut consists of lifting each foot up and down! |
I've never owned any kind of bird before, but Thunder's happy strut is making me rethink all of my past pet choices.
ReplyDelete