Jasper
On April 4th, Easter Sunday morning, I got the call that I had been dreading for maxed-out MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue - a wounded pigeon at the San Jose Animal Control Shelter needed to be rescued.
With more than 50 pigeons and doves already in foster care and no available volunteers, I had to say that MickaCoo couldn't help. I alerted Mickaboo and other communities of bird lovers such as Pigeon Talk that this pigeon needed someone else's help with this message-
Hello- I've been contacted by SJACS about a pigeon they got in on Friday that is "unable to fly, has a possible leg injury, is stable and needs to be picked up today or tomorrow" (A# 682084). I have no other information. This is the message I've been dreading having to post. MickaCoo is overfull and I am WAY overcapacity with what I can do and so have the sad responsibility of turning down this request to help a pigeon in distress. I will be posting this on Pigeon Talk and Facebook but other than that can offer no help. It is likely that this bird will be euthanized. If YOU want to help it, please contact SJACS' Joanne at (408) 794-7207.
Mickaboo (which is always stretched to their limits and beyond to help all the abandonded budgies and cockatiels and cockatoos and Amazons and conures and and and) put out the word to their volunteers and one came forward, picking up the pigeon from the shelter and transporting him to an avian vet (For the Birds) the next day.
The bird, named Jasper, had been shot and had wounds to its foot, leg, wing and a piece of buckshot still lodged in his shoulder (which has since been removed). Described as a "pigeon trying to be fancy", Jasper is an Indian Fantail cross with feathery feet and a lush but not fanned tail.
After more than two weeks at the vet, his very, very high white blood count (240K) made him what is considered a "zoonotic risk" and so it became even more challenging to find a foster home comfortable taking him in. Even though Mickaboo had generously committed to paying his vet bill, I couldn't stand to see that bill climb ever higher and so, on 4/21, I drove to SJ and picked him up and brought him home. It's been challenging. I really didn't have space for another one but what the hell?
His wounds are now healed and his white blood count has come waaay down and his test results are negative (good news) but, as an inpatient for over two weeks, his vet bill is expensive. To donate towards paying his bill, please click here and follow the directions. (Please note "Jasper" in your donation). Jasper is expected to make a full recovery and will be available for adoption soon.
There are many more pigeons and doves and budgies and macaws and every other sort of abandoned pet out there in need of help. Jasper, as unique as he is, is just one of too many.
Until there are homes for all of them, please- don't buy and don't breed- adopt.
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