Arizona Exotic Bird Rescue, Inc.

On Monday October 27th 2008 we received a call from a veterinary technician at a nearby dog and cat hospital requesting we come and pick-up a macaw that the former owner left behind.  He explained that it was important to come quickly as the entire staff was leaving the practice. 

When we arrived at the run down facility the young man that had placed the urgent call took us outside to an area behind the clinic.  There was Fred, standing on an old broken down discarded cabinet that looked to be from a kitchen 1950s era.  The condition of the bird was shocking.  My effort not to register alarm fell short.  Fred, a sad trembling Macaw with only stubs of feathers on his entire body was in desperate need of help.  Only his beautifully feathered red head and neck offered a hint as to his regal breed.  “Hello Fred,” he said in a deep manly voice. 

The accounting of Fred’s life was told.  Fred had once been a pet of the old vet that had sold his practice several months earlier to retire.  This once magnificent parrot and an African Grey companion had been abandoned.  The veterinarian didn’t care about the birds’ fate.  Never even bothered to inform his buyer that he was leaving his parrots behind.   

Fred had lived his entire life at the clinic in the company of the Grey.  He was ten years old.  And until recently had been fully feathered.  I inquired about the events that precipitated Fred removing his feathers.  I was shocked at what I was told.    

The long time veterinary practice had been on the decline for many years.  There had been a steady stream of turn over in the staff.  The woman that bought the practice had no experience in the medical care of animals.  She wanted a place to board her many Rottweilers. 

When she took over, the remaining veterinarian left and the technicians were told do surgeries and, “don’t tell anyone our vet left.”  A couple techs left immediately.  A couple others couldn’t afford to leave without a place to go.  The young man said he was thankful that nothing had gone wrong with the dogs and cats they treated. 

One day the woman showed up with five of her rambunctious dogs.  She opened up the door to the treatment area and commanded her dogs to enter.  They ran unencumbered by leashes into the room.  The remaining staff, having had no idea the woman and her Rottie entourage were arriving had Fred and his African Grey buddy out of their cramped cage. 

Startled by the sudden influx of ill-mannered K-9s the Grey flew to the floor where he was torn to shreds by the dogs.  Fred saw everything!  The employees were devastated and started to cry.  The callused woman found their abrupt display of grief disgusting.  “Oh for GODS SAKE!  It’s just a f-ing bird!” she said.  Within 48 hours Fred, in response to the horror he had witnessed, chewed off every feather below his neck down close to the skin.  I couldn’t hold back the tears. 

Once I regained my composure I offered Fred my arm.  What a sweet and charming boy!  I needed to get the rest of his history.  ‘What was Fred being fed,’ I ask.  “Dry dog food and microwaved Ramen Noodles,” he said.  For how long, I inquired.  “Forever.  That’s what both parrots were fed.”  My surprise registered on my face.  “Is that bad,” the tech ask.  I knew why Fred was so pathetically thin and his entire body trembled.  Fred had suffered serious nerve damage from a prolonged, horrible, inappropriate, diet.  The dog food was bad enough but then they added the salty Ramen Noodles! 

We bring Fred back to the rescue and feed him the first proper parrot food he had ever had.  He dove into his Harrisons’ Pellets®!  I quickly cut some fresh fruit and made him a microwaved scrambled egg.  He LOVED it!  He was making sounds more commonly heard in a barnyard.  I was thrilled.  He had captured my heart.  After eating he was placed in a sparkling clean Macaw size cage with new toys and plenty of perches.  To play with his new treasures he had to hold his leg in his beak to stabilize his foot so he could steady it enough to touch the toy.  He played.  Then he slept.  He awoke after several hours and went directly to his food bowls.  He took a vigorous bath in his water.  Preened his feather nubs and went back to bed for the night. 

Morning arrived and Fred went to Dr. Wrights’ office for an exam.  I was correct in my estimation that Fred had suffered massive neurological damage.  Having Multiple Sclerosis myself has taught me the signs.  Muscle weakness, cramps, and spasms are associated with motor nerve damage.  In some cases, neuropathy can cause a loss of balance and coordination.  The sensory nerve damage can produce tingling, numbness, a burning sensation, and pain.  The severity of the pain and other issues associated with sensory nerve damage varies.  Fred had suffered for a long time.  If I couldn’t improve his quality of life I would allow him to be euthanized to free him from his troubled body. 

This wonderful bird also displayed spasm like tics such as one would see in Tourette Syndrome.  Fred’s head jerks violently to the left, his tongue shoots out of his mouth, and he bites down.  Each time that happened he would register his displeasure over his lack of control over his body.  His frustration was so apparent.  His prognosis and options were discussed.  I took a wait-and- see attitude until we got the results of his blood work and other tests back. When the results came in I was even more amazed that Fred was alive.  I was committed to giving him a chance.  Medication, his new healthy diet, sunshine, and supplements made big changes for out special boy. 

I researched just what breed of Macaw this handsome guy is.  My best guess is he’s a Shamrock Macaw, a mixed breed combo of Scarlet/Military Macaw.  Fred leads toward the Scarlet portion of his DNA.  Further evidence of breeders playing God...  Combinations of parrots that wouldn’t occur in nature are placed in a position to mate creating ‘designer breeds.’  The dog equivalent would be a Multipoo; Maltese- Poodle mixed breed or the Labradoodle a Labrador-Poodle.  Fred’s a mutt.  He also took the best in personality traits from both parents. 
Here we are half way through 2010.  Fred has blossomed and bloomed in our loving care since 2008.  While he’s shown a preference in keeping his feathers clipped short many other milestones have been reached. 

While he still has a tremor it’s very slight.  We’ve turned the tics in to ‘tricks.’  He now purposefully cocks his head to the right and sticks his tongue out in an exaggerated manner.  His involuntary vocalizations that have a grunt like characteristic are now followed with ‘doo-wap music sounds.’  He’s put on weight and he’s strong.  He’s beautifully healthy!  He’s a hit with the lady Macaws although he’s happy being a bachelor.  He does appear to enjoy the attention from the girls.  Fred is a happy confident guy.  He loves looking at himself in the mirror where he watches himself preen. 

This spring brought about another surprise.  He’s letting his tail grow.  Well I should say ‘some’ of his tail feathers are allowed to grow.  The longest feather remained in it’s sheath at over a foot long.  Fred has forgotten just how to properly preen.  I finally took matters in to my own hands and freed the encased quill.  He didn’t mind.  Now and then he yells toward his rump when the long feather bumps in to something. 

To all of those that criticized my decision to allow Fred to live when he first arrived, I blow them a big razzie!  In spite of the incredible odds stacked against Fred he has triumphed.  To those of us at Arizona Exotic Bird Rescue, Inc.  he looks completely normal.   He’s beautiful.  He’s just one more reminder that the will to live can be great enough to over-come the horrible consequences of a decade of neglect, mishandling, indifference, and abuse so far as his sprit is concerned.   In all likelihood Fred will not experience the full life span that God intended him to have.  His first owner robbed him of that gift.  It is my hope that Fred and I can grow older together.  We may just have to settle for quality over quantity. 

Every parrot you read about on our site requires money to maintain.  Nothing is free.  It costs significantly to keep a roof over everyone’s head, keep high quality food in the bowls, supply the powder coat and stainless steel cages,  the grape vine and manzanita play stands, provide superb medical care, buy the tools we use, the wood for our toys, cleaning supplies, the up-keep on our vehicle, and countless other needs.

 

Please help us.  It’s so simple to give a gift.  It’s not the amount so much as the number of you willing to contribute.  You can click on the DONATE button.  That will take you to PayPal where you can use your credit or debit card.  You’ll even have the option of doing an electronic bank draft (check).  You don’t need a PayPal account to use the service.  The information on our post office box is also provided.  Your help makes a difference!