Well.... we rescued a budgie

[Kyoto]

Everyone, meet the completely un-planned addition to our little family... Terry.

I'll repost the email I sent to the vet tonight:

"Hello there. My green cheek conure Kyoto is a current patient of Dr. Goodall(we were there just a few days ago), but I am actually emailing about a semi-emergency with another bird.

Tonight I took in a budgie from someone. I will actually call this a rescue. He looks like his leg is broken or dislocated, and the woman that had him couldn't afford to take him to a vet so I offered to take care of him if she surrendered him to me. As far as she has told me, she noticed him on the bottom of the cage 2 days ago unable to use his leg and limping. She called a vet, got a quote, and decided not to take him in because he was only $30 at the pet store.

Someone in the ECAA Facebook group ended up babysitting for her and noticed the bird- she made a post about him asking if anyone else knew what they could do without a vet. Of course, we all told her to get it to a vet, but then we found out that she was not taking him.

I private messaged my number and the lady called me tonight and agreed to let me take him. I drove over and picked him up. He was living in a barely suitable cage with another budgie, but they had food and water. The other budgie seemed fine, and as healthy as a bird on a seed diet can be. The lady really did mean well- she just didn't seem to know a lot. And at the end of the day she really does want what is best for the little guy. I have offered to take her other budgie down the road if she decides she wants them together- but I'm hoping that this might just be a learning experience for her and that she will do some research and hopefully improve the quality of life for her other budgie.

I took the Budgie and went to the Burnside emergency clinic immediately with the hurt budgie and they were able to give him a small dose of metacam to help with the pain, but of course without an avian vet there that's all they could do.

I've had MAEC fax his record and papers to you, and I am hoping to call first thing in the morning to get him in to see Dr. Goodall to take a good look at his leg. I'll be working at 3pm so if there is any way we can take him in before then that would be amazing. This poor little guy has had a rough few days and I really really want to get him the help he needs as soon as possible. The best guess from the other vet is that he has a fracture or it is dislocated. He is otherwise lively and saucy, I think he stands a good chance of a pretty normal life as long as he is seen tomorrow.... or Friday morning at the latest.

He is currently in a hospital cage with soft towels, food and water. I felt he is more comfortable being able to take the pressure off his legs instead of struggling in a big flight cage. I have him quarantined away from my conure and canary to be safe. He is on a seed diet (that will change with time) and seems to be eating and drinking normally.

Thank you for reading, hope to hear from you. If you do see this email before I call, please call me and wake me.

Thank you so much- hope to hear back soon.

Sarah
Sent from my iPhone"

SO yea, basically the typical bought a bird not knowing anything and didn't want to take care of it when it got sick. I couldn't leave him.... I had to take him in.

Keep your fingers crossed for little Terry tomorrow... Hoping we can get an appointment!!!

 

[RavensGryf]

Thank you for taking the little budgie in Sarah. Poor thing. I hope Terry gets help ASAP. You're such a good birdie mom. I know the issue of finding a qualified vet is a challenge. Please keep us posted!

Ps. I've had 2 birds at different times (tiel and Amazon) named Terry . One male, one female.

 

[EllenD]

Thanks so much for taking him in and getting him help, the poor little guy must be suffering so..
As a budgie breeder and owner of 30 years, the excuse of "The parakeet only cost $30 at the pet store, so why should I spend $200 on his broken leg" to get out of spending a couple hundred dollars or less, and being okay with letting a living thing that THEY CHOSE TO BUY AND COMMIT TO CARE FOR suffer and be in horrible pain with a risk of dying from infection or being handicapped for the rest of it's life, well this makes my blood boil. I'm not as accepting or forgiving as you on this particular situation because as a long-time budgie breeder I've heard this excuse many, many, many times from buyers and have ended up doing exactly what you are doing no less than 8 times that I can count after getting a phone call from someone that bought a baby from me and it had become injured or sick. I have no time for it now, I used to forgive it, but it's too many irresponsible, uncaring people that bought a baby from me and signed a contract.

Thank you so, so much! It's good to know that there are still some very special people in this world!

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[Kyoto]

So update: the soonest available appointment with the vet I trust the most is tomorrow morning at 9am. Everyone send your prayers for little Terry. I hate that I have to work tonight but I have to pay for these vet bills somehow.

 

[BeatriceC]

Thank you for taking the little guy! Hopefully your vet can get him sorted out quickly and he will be on the road to recovery!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Kyoto, you're my hero!

Terry, we are all pulling for you. Keep fighting! I can't bear to look at your picure above, so I'll wait to see one of you en route to recovery!

 

[Kyoto]

Oh my god. My heart is so full right now.

-Update-

So, just to give you guys a quick update, I have received an overwhelming amount of support for this little bird.

At 10am, Dr Jeff Goodall called me himself. He said "Sarah, I read the email and I can't see him properly tomorrow, please bring him to me immediately. Don't worry about the bill for now, we will deal with that later, just get him in to me so I can see what I can do between my appointments today and my techs will help out. We will do everything we can, but for now he needs to be here to be assessed and cared for. I can't promise that it's fixable until I see it, but I will do everything I can for him. Thank you for taking him in."

We just dropped little Terry off, and they are going to call me to update me. In the meantime, the local bird group has offered me donations to help out, and so many people are following to see how he does. We managed to get his emergency bill paid for last night but today will of course be the big one. I'll be paying whatever it is, and putting any donations directly towards it and making a list of donations publicly, and I'll of course send everyone who donates a copy of the vet bill for transparency.

Everyone keep your fingers crossed for this little bird. I hate that I couldn't stay with him, but again have to pay that bill somehow! I am just so grateful that Dr. Goodall cared enough to call me and have me take him in. He certainly cares about his patients.

I will keep everyone updated as I can.

 

[Scott]

You are awesome, Sarah! So nice to see unconditional compassion from you, the vet, and donors. I hope Terry recovers well, a truly special bird!!

 

[Kyoto]

well... the news is not good...

Terry's knee is broken, and he has a spiral fracture that's basically shattered his little leg. There is no way to splint the leg... I asked if amputation could be a possible option (I know of many birds that have gotten along fine with one leg) and the vet has performed one before, but he wanted to call another vet to make sure they thought it was a good option. I think he was nervous because of what the bill would be that I would say no, but he consulted another vet (an avian vet in montreal) and they recommended going ahead with an amputation - that given the bird is otherwise healthy, he has a good chance of surviving.

I was actually relieved at the quote - $450-$500 (It could have been MUCH more expensive) and with the donations and help so far, I think I have over half the amount funded so far. I gave them the go ahead to amputate.

Everyone, please send your prayers and positive vibes. This poor little bird is a fighter, and so am I. We are doing everything we can for him.

I am heading to work soon, but will update again when I can.

 

[Scott]

A bittersweet update. Terry has the very best chance for survival given your rescue and a vet willing to consult to arrive at the best diagnosis. Given Terry's small size and complex fracture, amputation seems the best of difficult choices. Thankfully birds can survive and thrive with a single leg.

The vet seems very generous with billing to date!

 

[RavensGryf]

It's so nice to see a vet who not only has the avian skills, but is that caring and compassionate as well. Prayers and good vibes to little Terry. He is a very fortunate little bird to be with you. I wish you and Terry all the best, and bless all that were able to help.

 

[GaleriaGila]

If you start a GoFundMe page (however that's done) I bet you'd get help.

 

[BeatriceC]

Disabled birds can live a healthy, happy life. I have a one winged macaw and her rehab is coming along nicely. They need time, patience, and love. You will probably have to experiment a little bit wit cage set up so he can be as active as possible within his limitations, but just keep adjusting things until you figure out what works best.

 

[Kyoto]

Hi everyone, I am about to post a video on a separate thread to update everyone.
<3