Archive for Rescue
Bold Black Ink
It was windy and cold that day. A small brown box was blowing around in the clinic’s parking lot. Closer inspection showed excessive tape and some writing on the box in bold black ink.
There were random pencil sized holes…
…but for what?
…maybe air holes…
What was in the box?
A Good Samaritan carried the box into the clinic and said, “Don’t know what this is, but it sounds like a small animal is in there. It was blowing around the lot and I scooped it up from behind someone’s rear wheel just before they backed up!”
What ever was in there was lucky to be alive. The bold ink on the box said, “my name is Tye.” Other parts of the box said things like “I need help” and “Please don’t kill me!!!” The small brown box was almost entirely covered in these few phrases over and over again on all six sides.
The reception desk phoned back to the treatment area and said a small package was brought in from outside. Someone brought the box back we all stared at it for a minute or two and read the bold inscriptions on it. I volunteered to open it expecting a small rodent inside. Peeling the tape took what seemed like forever and I tried to peek inside. It was too dark to see without opening the box. Eventually one box flap opened and crouching inside was a small bird in less than a 10th of a second she had burst into flight heading towards our large windows.
It must have been reflex to grab her out of the air and the thought that she would certainly get hurt if she flew into the solid glass windows. She was in my hand now the way one would hold a pigeon. At that point I had limited experience with birds and most of the avian work had been with my uncle and his racing pigeons. She was breathing hard and looked scared but she never tried to bite.
She was not in good shape; one of her wings was very raw and irritated underneath. This was a job for Dr. Weinstein. After an exam and several tests it was determined she had some sort of follicle problem that made her itchy and that is why she was in bad shape. The staff here decided she was a good fit for the hospital and decided she should stay. With her medical condition she would be difficult to re-home and she seemed very happy here. Dr. Weinstein agreed to treat her condition and other medical needs as they arise and she has lived here ever since. The main solution to her problem…a special made tiny e-collar and some ointment for her wing.
The e-collar has been a work in progress for several years. The first one was hard plastic with two metal snaps. It weighted her down and made her clumsy. The next one was a scrunchy type thing that was lighter but she figured out how to pick at herself so we had to do something different. Next was an e-collar made out of x-ray film which was lighter but somewhat pokey and with all the padding still somewhat heavy (6 grams is heavy for a bird to wear around their neck). I was determined to make a lighter one and modified the x-ray film collar until it was only 5 grams. The one she wears now is made from IV fluid bag plastic, and cast padding it only weighs 4 grams. What will we come up with next? Maybe it’s time to have a contest to see who can build an effective bird e-collar that weighs 3 grams or less.
Tye is lucky to say the least. She survived the parking lot, and found a home with us at the hospital. Though she has a medical condition that prevents her from being without her e-collar she can do many of the same things a normal bird can do. She has everything she needs here: people who love her, place to stay, and the medical care she needs to thrive. I will never forget the day I opened that box.
-by Leslie Dempsey CVT
On The 7 O’Clock Mews
This past Thursday, there was excitement aplenty at North 
Portland Veterinary Hospital.
Just after 7 am, some kittens found themselves in the road just down the street from our office. Initially thought to have been thrown from a moving vehicle, the latest developments indicate that the kittens may have been stowaways. Oregon Humane Society is investigating.
One of these kittens found her way to us for treatment and fostering, we call her “Penny On The Block.” News crews from Channels 2, 8, and 12 came by to get the scoop, interviewing Kim F. our camera-ready CVT and getting footage of Penny. Kitten abandonment and abuse rarely make headlines, but we suddenly found ourselves at the epicenter of a public interest piece.
Immediately after the story aired, the phone started ringing off the hook. People wanted to know more information about the vehicle, some desperately wanted to adopt the grey and white survivor, and others just wanted understand how this could happen.
Regardless of how the litter of kittens came to be in the middle of Peninsular, they bring home the message that there is a huge surplus pet population in Portland. The sad reality is that animals are abandoned everyday, in fields and parks, at empty houses, schools, and veterinary hospitals. If you’d like to help:
- Have your pets spayed and neutered. Encourage friends and family members to do the same for their pets.
- Call Oregon Humane Society, or other rescue organizations, and ask to volunteer with their group and become a foster parent to other abandoned or injured pets. They need lots of help.
- Support groups like Feral Cat Coalition, who provide spay and neuter services for feral or stray cats.
- When you witness a case of abuse or neglect, call the Oregon Humane Society and file a report with their officer.
Foster Rabbits Need Your Help
A rabbit foster mom for Rabbit Advocates asked if we would be willing to set up a fund to help with medical costs for foster parents who take on bunnies that no one else wants.
Foster parents are financially responsible for each bunny in their care, and depending on the medical needs, the cost can be quite expensive. Our hospital is able to offer veterinary care to these bunnies at a deep discount, but the bill has to be paid for at time of service.
With the recent downturn of the economy, many foster parents are having a hard time feeding and caring for themselves much less a bunny or two or three. Unfortunately, without the help of fosters, many rabbits would have to be euthanized.
So, North Portland Veterinary Hospital set up “The Rabbit Advocate Donation Fund.” Donations are accepted for any amount to this special fund by contacting our office. In addition, direct donations are always welcome through the Rabbit Advocates website.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
The Bunnies and Fosters for Rabbit Advocates
