Journey

Journey had a long road to go to get home.

I first met her, I believe, as one of these three baby pigeons at SF ACC on January 17th. Beyond taking her picture and posting it to encourage adoption, I did nothing for her. I didn't see any obvious signs of illness and I had no foster nor forever home to offer her.

Prior to arriving there as a stray, she'd probably been raised to be sold as meat (squab) by a backyard breeder in SF and then bought and "set free" by someone well-meaning but ill-informed. Her time in the wild would have been harrowing as she would have had no survival skills (king pigeons are domesticated) and been at the mercy of lots of threats, including dogs, cars, cats, hawks, people and starvation. Most freed king pigeons don't survive long enough to get to the shelter.



When I next met her, she had been separated from the other baby pigeons (because of bickering) and on January 29th, with the help of a Mickaboo volunteer, I moved her out of SF ACC and on to the Marin Humane Society. SF ACC was past full and needed to either move or euthanize the too-many pigeons they were sheltering and the Marin Humane Society (to whom I was referred by SaveABunny Rescue) was kind enough to take four kings and three chickens, eliminating the need to euthanize any birds for the moment.



She was housed at Marin Humane Society until an extremely rainy February 22nd when another volunteer drove from Oakland to Novato and back to transport Journey in the first leg of her long trip home. She was also helped by another volunteer who hosted her for the night and then expertly handled the complications of shipping her through the mail the next day.

Journey, while being one of just a very many homeless king pigeons, was the first ever that I shipped via USPS to get her into a great, forever home.

In early January, at my wits' end trying to find enough homes for the shelters' king pigeons, I posted this message on the (wonderful!) webgroup Pigeon Talk:

Message to Pij Lovers that Breed

Hello-I know a lot of you have birds that lay eggs and raise babies each year and I ENVY you that opportunity. As a rescuer, I'm on the other end of the spectrum. I want to ask that in 2009, you consider replacing ONE clutch with fake eggs and taking in a rescued pigeon or 2 in place of raising those new (adorable, irresistable, kissable!) babies. They don't have to be my rescued kings... there are LOTS of at-risk pij out there that need homes. Thank you for considering it.

And from that the King Care-A-Van was born. Pigeon Talk members have gotten involved not only as adopters but as volunteers and donors in support of MickaCoo. People had asked me in the past if I would ship birds (something commonly done by pigeon breeders and racers) and I'd always said no because I believe it is best to place birds locally rather than simply export the problem somewhere else (not to mention concern for putting a bird in a box and mailing it via the USPS). But, after over a year of doing this the equivalent of full-time and placing many wonderful birds but never enough, I decided to try it and Journey was the first. She was mailed on February 23rd and arrived the next day at her new home. She now lives as a pampered and cherished pet in Arizona. Here's her story as told by her adopter, Jennifer.

Finding Journey
Written by: Jennifer Phipps

------------****------------



They say, “A Journey of a Thousand Miles begins with A Single Step”.

I believe, that a Journey begins, when you believe enough in your heart to let yourself take that First Single Step.

This is where my story begins.

If you would have told me when I was younger that I’d have a house full of animals, I would have believed it. I’m a country girl, born and raised on a sprawling 350 acre farm. Our animals were ALL outside pets. I spent many countless days in the chicken coop or in the barn hanging from the rafters. I was an animal activist from early on, declaring exactly that… one day in the driveway, while Grandpa tried to squash an ant… Uh- huh I said an ant. I saved everything right down to a lil’ ole ant! From that moment on my heart proudly rode around, first class on my sleeve. Some thirty years later my heart still resides in that same spot. And our “Journey of a Thousand Miles” began with my heart in its rightful spot.

I had been searching for a mate for our house pijie, Willow who had come to us in September 2008. She is a very tame and spoiled rotten, white homing pigeon. After being a member of Pigeon Talk since last December, I was looking through the adoption thread in hopes that we’d find her the perfect mate. On Jan. 12th a thread started that read, “Message To Pij Lovers that Breed” from Elizabeth. I anxiously waited while the thread posted daily about the happenings with what was going on. SO many wonderful people stood up and have taken action. I watched the thread like a hawk and finally at the end of Jan. noticed that someone else from the Southwest had posted. I was ELATED! I immediately talked to my husband and batted every pretty little eyelash I had and asked to be apart of it. He agreed and thought it was a wonderful way to get Willow a partner and save an animal at the same time. I remember typing my response that day, full of hope that this could possibly happen and at the same time I knew that we could only offer one pijie a home. I posted and submitted an application to MickaCoo and waited.

A few weeks had passed and I heard on the thread that they were going to be moving on to Phase II of The Great King Care-A-Van and that it was a sole bird coming to Arizona… and I nearly spat my coffee straight out! “ARIZONA…. Sole BIRD??? THAT was ME!!!!!! That bird is COMING TO ME!!! YIPPIE!!!!!!” I was so psyched! At this point the dogs thought I had gone mad… but I didn’t care… I grabbed Keanu’s (our 105 lb Golden Retriever) paws and did A SPIN around the room! Whooo-HOOO!!!!! It was HAPPENING! And it was my BIRD, Phase II is MY BIRD!!

We decided that she deserved a name that would represent the thread and her. She would be the first King Pigeon from MickaCoo transported by USPS. We had all decided on a date Feb. 23rd and the process began. Meanwhile we decided that since this poor baby at the Marin Animal Shelter being housed in a barn, is a young pijie and she had quite the journey ahead of her to get to us. WHEN it hit…. “JOURNEY” ….. We will name her Journey… With everything she has been through and will have been through to get to us, not to mention the journey Elizabeth began when she made that sole post back in the beginning of January on Pigeon Talk….IT was PERFECT! Journey it was!

The days proceeding up to the ship date were wee bit nerve wracking to say the least… Journey needed a ride from the Marin Shelter across the San Francisco Bay to Oakland where she would spend the night at A PT member Kari Jo’s house and then be shipped the next day. It was a 2 hour drive that needed to be donated by the kindness of someone’s heart. I along with everyone else, literally waited on PINS and needles, waiting for a confirmed ride for lil’ Journey… THIS was the only thing holding us back between a shelter and a home for Journey. I pleaded on PT asking anyone and everyone to help… I honestly thought this might not happen after all. Diane, Kari Jo and Elizabeth all kept my spirits up and reassured me that they would make IT happen. The day of the transfer came and confirmation that pijie expert, Dan, had stepped up to the plate. He would make the 2 hour drive and get our precious baby started on her journey.

I watched the clock like it was a ticking time bomb…. And I watched the USPS tracking number for her box, even closer. I couldn’t wait ANYMORE… and when I saw that her tracking number had been processed in Phoenix, I told my husband “Come On… We’re taking a drive!”… BY PURE luck or divine intervention I like to think, I found the address that matched the zip code at the loading dock and while everyone at the post office thought I’d gone postal driving over an hour and a half for a PIGEON… Journey was delivered into my hands via Claps and Praises!!! …LOL… I tore into that box like a kid at Christmas… Poor Journey probably thought, “Ummm… Everything ok out there guys?” I popped the box and grabbed my BIG ole BALL of FLUFFY warm white FEATHERS!

She was finally home…. She was finally here…… She was safe….. she wasn’t lonely, cold or unwanted. SHE was right where she was meant to be. Home…. safe and sound.

My admiration for ALL the people that are involved in the King Care-A-Van, is held close to my heart. The dedication of everyone involved is truly awe inspiring. And for those of us who have opened our hearts and homes for these orphaned Big ole’ King Pijies knows; that the love and security along with the promise of a forever home; mean more than the world to even just one pigeon, who can be saved. I can’t save the world. I can save one; that in which I decide to act upon.

--------------------------------------****--------------------------------------------

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for reading Journey’s story. It is only one of many that you will see here. Amongst which I sincerely hope to be reading yours next. “A Journey of a thousand Miles begins with a single step”. What will your step be???