Beasley
Rollerblading along the road
In April a post on Craigslist lead me to a hoarder (H) downsizing his out of control colony of lovebirds. When we first met H had pulled some into cages, hiding the rest beneath tarps. Eventually he agreed to show me his colony of more than six huge aviaries so packed with birds they couldn’t fly and everything inside was caked in generations of feces.
I bought four (all I had cash for) and took them straight to the vet, one died that night. I couldn’t sleep, I kept thinking of those poor birds. My vet fund wasn’t in great shape but I could afford it. I couldn’t let it go.
I went back the next day. H was combative, a bit scary. He knew one had passed and three were in the AV being treated for severe respiratory infections among other ailments. He wouldn’t budge past two so I brought two more straight to the vet. Again one was so ill he didn’t make it through the night. He passed after multiple seizures.
My four remaining were my little warriors. They survived 15 days of ICU, antibiotics, oxygen and heat. I got the ok to bring them home into my QT room. They were skittish but warming up to me. I named one pair Crash and Fadeaway. Crash was a violet and Fade a blue pied, all are masked/Fischer’s lovebirds.
11 May, my sweet Crash (so named for her terrible and frightening flying ability) began exhibiting some strange neurological symptoms. I called my vet in a panic and found out they only have the exotic vet one day a week. I scheduled their soonest appointment, 14 May and at my request was referred to an on call AV (my new AV) she listened to Crash and her symptoms and said it was likely an ear infection, I already had pulled her into a hospital cage with a heat pad. AV said to monitor her and she’d meet me at the hospital (an hour’s drive away) ASAP if it got worse.
The next day the symptoms subsided, Crash seemed to be getting better and the 14th vet visit seemed less irrational. But then I came home on the 13th to find her on her back with Fade sitting on her head (!?) I was prepared this time, I called “All Animals Vet” to advise them we were OTW and why, only to be told their AV is actually only there X days a week (unbelievable) I was given a bunch of phone numbers I had to write on the back of a random receipt while driving.
Thank God the first call I made hit the mark; 15m or less, they will be ready and waiting. I drove us there (somehow) trying to decipher the pen-ran-out-of-ink address while holding onto Crash in her box as she seized violently. I ran inside and handed her over, she was immediately passed to the vet and ran into the back.
While I was filling out the paperwork the front desk tech answered a call and said “No, I’m sorry we don’t see cats or dogs here.” The comfort of hearing those words cannot be expressed. Minutes later Crash had had another seizure. The AV came in and amazingly was the exact person I’d spoken with when this all began! They have a location 5m away! She watched my videos showing Crash’s symptoms. After, as I was reviewing the nearly $2000 treatment plan, Crash passed away peacefully and while sedated. They made me a little clay heart with her footprints and I bought her home in an entirely different box.
That day was gut wrenching. We think the violet/blue lovebirds must be inbred and genetically unstable. Fade and one of my remaining pair were violet/blues. Their 45 day mark passed. I moved Fade into my bedroom to bond and so he wouldn’t get lonely. A few days ago Fade passed away in the night. He was curious and bold, sweet and seemed to know that I loved him, although he was still very hand-shy.
These last few days have been miserable. I had poured so much into Fade; my love for Crash, the grief we shared. He’d started singing and chattering in my presence! He began picking up and dropping the doors of his cage, asking to be let out. Without having to fear being hunted down and caught, he was learning how to fly.
Through all of this I kept an eye on Craigslist. The hoarder is still posting, at least in pictures the birds look less crowded. I’ve thought about confronting him and/or reporting him, but I know how dangerous involving the authorities can be. Even with the stinging losses and vet costs, I have to resist going back for more. All of them deserve a chance at life, proper veterinary care, and to be loved. Fade’s cage sits empty in my room.
I never managed to name my two surviving rescue lovebirds, and now I find myself afraid to, as if by naming them I will risk losing them. They came from a horrific environment, their health is likely to be less than optimal and I accept that. All I can do is love and care for them, hopefully for a very long and healthy life together. Maybe AA can help me shake the superstition and name these two beautiful survivors!
Thank you for reading our long and sad story. The pain of losing two so quickly, and then Crash and Fadeaway after so long is raw and the experience fraught with hard learned lessons. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.
First Four
Then three, Crash & my survivors
RIP Crash and Fadeaway, you brought so much laughter and love into my life. I miss you both.
And my two titans. The violet is very shy, quiet and reserved; she mostly hides. The Fischer’s is rowdy and silly and curious about me. He’s also quite dedicated to breaking out of his cage and weirdly, the two of them fly very well. I sometimes wonder if they were in a less crammed aviary and had room to learn. Maybe that also explains their apparent good health. So far I’ve been calling them baby boy/girl and whenever I catch him trying to escape, Loki
I bought four (all I had cash for) and took them straight to the vet, one died that night. I couldn’t sleep, I kept thinking of those poor birds. My vet fund wasn’t in great shape but I could afford it. I couldn’t let it go.
I went back the next day. H was combative, a bit scary. He knew one had passed and three were in the AV being treated for severe respiratory infections among other ailments. He wouldn’t budge past two so I brought two more straight to the vet. Again one was so ill he didn’t make it through the night. He passed after multiple seizures.
My four remaining were my little warriors. They survived 15 days of ICU, antibiotics, oxygen and heat. I got the ok to bring them home into my QT room. They were skittish but warming up to me. I named one pair Crash and Fadeaway. Crash was a violet and Fade a blue pied, all are masked/Fischer’s lovebirds.
11 May, my sweet Crash (so named for her terrible and frightening flying ability) began exhibiting some strange neurological symptoms. I called my vet in a panic and found out they only have the exotic vet one day a week. I scheduled their soonest appointment, 14 May and at my request was referred to an on call AV (my new AV) she listened to Crash and her symptoms and said it was likely an ear infection, I already had pulled her into a hospital cage with a heat pad. AV said to monitor her and she’d meet me at the hospital (an hour’s drive away) ASAP if it got worse.
The next day the symptoms subsided, Crash seemed to be getting better and the 14th vet visit seemed less irrational. But then I came home on the 13th to find her on her back with Fade sitting on her head (!?) I was prepared this time, I called “All Animals Vet” to advise them we were OTW and why, only to be told their AV is actually only there X days a week (unbelievable) I was given a bunch of phone numbers I had to write on the back of a random receipt while driving.
Thank God the first call I made hit the mark; 15m or less, they will be ready and waiting. I drove us there (somehow) trying to decipher the pen-ran-out-of-ink address while holding onto Crash in her box as she seized violently. I ran inside and handed her over, she was immediately passed to the vet and ran into the back.
While I was filling out the paperwork the front desk tech answered a call and said “No, I’m sorry we don’t see cats or dogs here.” The comfort of hearing those words cannot be expressed. Minutes later Crash had had another seizure. The AV came in and amazingly was the exact person I’d spoken with when this all began! They have a location 5m away! She watched my videos showing Crash’s symptoms. After, as I was reviewing the nearly $2000 treatment plan, Crash passed away peacefully and while sedated. They made me a little clay heart with her footprints and I bought her home in an entirely different box.
That day was gut wrenching. We think the violet/blue lovebirds must be inbred and genetically unstable. Fade and one of my remaining pair were violet/blues. Their 45 day mark passed. I moved Fade into my bedroom to bond and so he wouldn’t get lonely. A few days ago Fade passed away in the night. He was curious and bold, sweet and seemed to know that I loved him, although he was still very hand-shy.
These last few days have been miserable. I had poured so much into Fade; my love for Crash, the grief we shared. He’d started singing and chattering in my presence! He began picking up and dropping the doors of his cage, asking to be let out. Without having to fear being hunted down and caught, he was learning how to fly.
Through all of this I kept an eye on Craigslist. The hoarder is still posting, at least in pictures the birds look less crowded. I’ve thought about confronting him and/or reporting him, but I know how dangerous involving the authorities can be. Even with the stinging losses and vet costs, I have to resist going back for more. All of them deserve a chance at life, proper veterinary care, and to be loved. Fade’s cage sits empty in my room.
I never managed to name my two surviving rescue lovebirds, and now I find myself afraid to, as if by naming them I will risk losing them. They came from a horrific environment, their health is likely to be less than optimal and I accept that. All I can do is love and care for them, hopefully for a very long and healthy life together. Maybe AA can help me shake the superstition and name these two beautiful survivors!
Thank you for reading our long and sad story. The pain of losing two so quickly, and then Crash and Fadeaway after so long is raw and the experience fraught with hard learned lessons. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.
First Four
Then three, Crash & my survivors
RIP Crash and Fadeaway, you brought so much laughter and love into my life. I miss you both.
And my two titans. The violet is very shy, quiet and reserved; she mostly hides. The Fischer’s is rowdy and silly and curious about me. He’s also quite dedicated to breaking out of his cage and weirdly, the two of them fly very well. I sometimes wonder if they were in a less crammed aviary and had room to learn. Maybe that also explains their apparent good health. So far I’ve been calling them baby boy/girl and whenever I catch him trying to escape, Loki
, it’s not my first language either 
