KAS Has Gone To The Birds
By Nancy Rivet, Vice President
In mid August a gentleman stopped by Kingdom Animal Shelter with 3 birds that he needed help with. Now, it did not seem wise to take 3 birds into a cat shelter but we were determined to try to help.
The bird's owner had left the country and had entrusted his birds to this gentleman who was not able to keep the birds and care for them.
The birds were completely white, American Standard White Fan Tailed Pigeons, and absolutely beautiful.
The gentleman thought to let the birds go, but as they had been pets, the birds would not have survived in the wild on their own. He agreed to give us 2 days to try to find a solution.
Through the KAS Community Fund, we have been able to assist dogs, other cats and bunnies, so the volunteers put their heads together to try to help these birds.
Volunteers called friends who had bird experience and suggestions were flying in (pun intended).
One volunteer had recently visited VINS in Quechee, VT which is the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. VINS is a leader in environmental education and wildlife conservation and cares for, rescues and rehabilitates injured, orphaned and ill birds. VINS was not able to take these birds but they suggested that we try VINES in Springfield, VT. VINES is an animal sanctuary that works for social and environmental justice as well as for animal liberation. Cheryl at VINES agreed to take these birds. VINES has a large Aviary that has space for 3 more birds.
By Nancy Rivet, Vice President
In mid August a gentleman stopped by Kingdom Animal Shelter with 3 birds that he needed help with. Now, it did not seem wise to take 3 birds into a cat shelter but we were determined to try to help.
The bird's owner had left the country and had entrusted his birds to this gentleman who was not able to keep the birds and care for them.
The birds were completely white, American Standard White Fan Tailed Pigeons, and absolutely beautiful.
The gentleman thought to let the birds go, but as they had been pets, the birds would not have survived in the wild on their own. He agreed to give us 2 days to try to find a solution.
Through the KAS Community Fund, we have been able to assist dogs, other cats and bunnies, so the volunteers put their heads together to try to help these birds.
Volunteers called friends who had bird experience and suggestions were flying in (pun intended).
One volunteer had recently visited VINS in Quechee, VT which is the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. VINS is a leader in environmental education and wildlife conservation and cares for, rescues and rehabilitates injured, orphaned and ill birds. VINS was not able to take these birds but they suggested that we try VINES in Springfield, VT. VINES is an animal sanctuary that works for social and environmental justice as well as for animal liberation. Cheryl at VINES agreed to take these birds. VINES has a large Aviary that has space for 3 more birds.
Two KAS volunteers made the 90 minute drive to Springfield to deliver the birds.
Cheryl gave us a wonderful tour of the sanctuary and we saw lots of land for goats, calves, cows, a very friendly barn cat and a variety of feathered rescues (pigeons, turkeys, roosters, geese). The animals seemed happy and well cared for.
After the pigeons had been safely delivered to the sanctuary, they had to go into an Isolation barn for a few days to be sure they were healthy. After a week, a volunteer checked in with Cheryl. Cheryl reported that the new White Fan Tailed Pigeons had been integrated into the Aviary and they were doing fabulously well. One of the birds with a smaller fan tail, immediately flew up into the rafters of the Aviary. The other 2 birds with larger fan tails, found a comfortable coop and were spotted showing off their beautiful feathers to the other birds. Cheryl further reported that the birds were doing well, they had settled right in and were eating well. Pigeons are generally very accepting and friendly birds when meeting new friends and this certainly seem to be the case here.
Cheryl reported that the birds with the larger fantail are bred for the larger tail. The last bird with a large fantail that VINES took from a hoarding situation took about 8 months to be able to fly to the rafters. Due to selective breeding, the birds' bodies are heavier and their wing muscles take time to develop. Until these birds' wing muscles develop more, they will be spending their time in the coops showing off their beautiful tail feathers but they are safe and home.
The gentleman who surrendered the 3 birds to KAS Volunteers was contacted and was given an update on the great condition of the birds. He was thrilled with how they were doing and wanted to thank the KAS volunteers for helping get the birds to sanctuary. His comments were:
"Thanks so much, they are really lucky birds, and God Bless you kind people."
So KAS has not really gone to the birds, but I am happy to report that we assisted some birds in having a safe and peaceful life.
Cheryl gave us a wonderful tour of the sanctuary and we saw lots of land for goats, calves, cows, a very friendly barn cat and a variety of feathered rescues (pigeons, turkeys, roosters, geese). The animals seemed happy and well cared for.
After the pigeons had been safely delivered to the sanctuary, they had to go into an Isolation barn for a few days to be sure they were healthy. After a week, a volunteer checked in with Cheryl. Cheryl reported that the new White Fan Tailed Pigeons had been integrated into the Aviary and they were doing fabulously well. One of the birds with a smaller fan tail, immediately flew up into the rafters of the Aviary. The other 2 birds with larger fan tails, found a comfortable coop and were spotted showing off their beautiful feathers to the other birds. Cheryl further reported that the birds were doing well, they had settled right in and were eating well. Pigeons are generally very accepting and friendly birds when meeting new friends and this certainly seem to be the case here.
Cheryl reported that the birds with the larger fantail are bred for the larger tail. The last bird with a large fantail that VINES took from a hoarding situation took about 8 months to be able to fly to the rafters. Due to selective breeding, the birds' bodies are heavier and their wing muscles take time to develop. Until these birds' wing muscles develop more, they will be spending their time in the coops showing off their beautiful tail feathers but they are safe and home.
The gentleman who surrendered the 3 birds to KAS Volunteers was contacted and was given an update on the great condition of the birds. He was thrilled with how they were doing and wanted to thank the KAS volunteers for helping get the birds to sanctuary. His comments were:
"Thanks so much, they are really lucky birds, and God Bless you kind people."
So KAS has not really gone to the birds, but I am happy to report that we assisted some birds in having a safe and peaceful life.