What are your thoughts on handicapped pets ? I know of someone raising a baby bird that was born without eyes and a mis-shaped head. The breeder was going to kill it as its not a profitable sale to her. My friend chose to buy the bird and give it a chance. It eats and is very active. Someone told her she should be reported to the SPCA; but the bird is not being abused in any way. In fact its just the opposite; the bird is spoiled! I agree with my friend; she wants to give it love for as long as it may live. What are your thoughts ?
2007-10-07 05:52:39 · 14 answers · asked by Bird lady 4 in Pets ➔ Birds
i have many handicap birds and always will your freind is doing great dont let any one tell you other wise .as long as the bird is happy and is feeding and drinking and is loved its getting what it needs , trust me i have had one missing beaker . one blind , 5 sprayled legs , and some pluckers , and every one is loved. the spca wont do anything unless the bird is in danger of being abused , some people just dont get it that any living breathing critter deserves love ,i can say im proud youre freind took on such a handicap and giving it a great life way to go on that.
2007-10-07 08:28:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've just went to see my doves this morning and seems one has broken his wing through the night, it's not as bad as the case your talking about but the poor guy must be in so much pain.
I would never kill any animal, every thing deserves a chance, think of it as if it was a handicapped baby, no one would ever dream of killing a baby, it's the same with any animal, just because they are a different species doesn't mean they don't deserve the best they can have.
If a bird was handicapped, it wouldn't 'miss out' on flying because it had never flew, it doesn't know what flying is and if it is treat right then it has no need to want to fly, I have birds who can fly but choose not too.
It's brilliant what your friend did, she is obviously a very kind a caring person, well done to her! Seems she and this little birdie were meant to be!
2007-10-07 10:23:44 · answer #2 · answered by Becca 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That was nice of your friend! They breeder should not be breeding. To get a bird that messed up they are breeding wrong. The spca would say she is being treated great and leave her alone. I would turn in the breeder! The bird may not have a real long life but sounds like it will have a happy one.
2007-10-07 14:28:44 · answer #3 · answered by Denise L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have a couple of handicapped budgies in my aviary. First is Hopalong. He is a beautiful sky blue boy with one leg thanks to an accident involving a half cut bar and his id band. Well I got him from the aspca who called me about his when he was turned in. His leg was all bloodied and broken. I stopped the bleeding and called a vet for some advice (it turned out I knew more about birds than them and they now call me to I should start a business hmmm). Well I treated him with antibiotics and the leg eventually died shrived and fell off. But he is a great bird. Funny as all get out to watch. His roomie Bug Is a goregous lutino (yellow) budgie that when her owner dies unexepectedly and was not discovered for a few days was given too me along with the rest of her owners flock, (about 150 budgis). We kept her and few others and found good homes for the rest. Well any way she had a bactiraolgical infection in her eye. Cured the infection but she lost her site. She is awesome being blind does not slow her down at all the only accepting that she thinks the food dish is a nest box. And lastly is fat lady. Unfortunatly there is nothing i can do for her she will die soon I think. She has cancer of the liver ( bad diet) So I am spoiling this bird rotten always has plenty of toys and the best food and lots of light and water and whatever else she may want. So in short no it is not wrong to care for and raise handicapped birds. They are just as awsome are "normal" birds.
2007-10-07 12:39:09 · answer #4 · answered by wraith9712001 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You didn't state what kind of bird it is. If I could suggest that she take him to an Avian Vet to make sure that it has no health issues other than his deformitites. I would also get x-rays to ensure there is no internal issue that would interfere with a semi-normal daily routine such as eating, digesting, etc.
This is to check the general health of the birds aside from its obvious difficulties.
This is a tough choice your friend made and it must have been a hard one. Many people couldn't do it. But if it is gratifying to your friend that she is helping this little guy, then that's what counts. People find love and satisfaction in some of the strangest callings and this was your friend's calling I guess. And if she learns something from this little guy and is happy with her bird, then there is no downside to it, as long as the bird is not in pain and is healthy.
Not everyone finds the same thing to be fulfilling. I wish your friend luck and I hope their relationship works out to be the best of everything!
2007-10-07 08:35:21 · answer #5 · answered by Phoenix 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There was a lady, Kathy, who visited a home for handycapped children. There was one boy, who the others had given up all hope for since he didn't seem to respond to much of any kind of stimulus. He couldn't talk, he couldn't DO anything, learn anything, play anything, work anything. Who would want such a child. It's a wonder they didn't just ABORT him or just let him..you know.."pull the plug".
Who would want him? Obiously no one..but this lady DID. In fact she realy loved him..so much that she took him home; she adopted him! Not the little girl that was so frolicky, or the boy who was a math wizard already at eight, but this helpless but special boy who needed her love.
Then one day she noticed that he COULD do something. He could grasp things and pull himself up and stand. If there were something else to hold onto, he could move around. So she had a chain-link fence built all the way around the property, so he could move himself all the way around it.
This Lady liked to play the piano and sometimes she would sit and put the boy's hands on the keys... just for fun. People would have laughed at her if they'd have known. One night the Lady was awakened to hear Tchaikowsky being played, note perfect by -you guessed it- yes her little "worthless" "defective" boy who no one wanted. Now he does concerts, and can even string a few words together. What unlocked the living spirit and life dwelling in this boy, LOVE that saw possibilities that others could not see, and faith to see it through.
Jesus said "Ye are better than many sparrows" (meaning your life's potential -I guess) but He certainly didn't say that the sparrow is not important, rather He said, "..not ONE of them (His creatures) falls to the ground except your Father knows." or is concerned about him.
Hitler, Gengis Kahn, Nepolan, Stalin, Pohl Pott, Mao Tse Tung -to name a few- all had two arms and two legs, eyeballs, and generally standard equipment, but the world might have been considerably better off if they'd been helpless cripples.
My friends kids had a little mouse with feet that turned the wrong way in front but OH how they loved that little mouse and OH how they wept when it got lost!
It doesn't matter at ALL, kathy , what the other people think. Your friend has the love for this one of God's creatures, which He for some reason -unknown to us- has allowed to be in this condition.
If these same people could see how deformed and spastic and helpless we ALL are in the spirit -in some ways- they'd be a little less judgemental, I'm sure,...but they can't and they don't
Well those are my thoughts! - Sionarra
2007-10-09 10:11:36 · answer #6 · answered by Sionarra 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Our Quaker Parrot is so nearsighted that he can only see about 12 inches. He is also the most intelligent, loving and happy bird I have even seen!
We have to do a few things with him that would not be needed with a fully sighted bird, such as announcing ourself before approaching so as to avoid surpriseing him. But in general he is worth the extra effort!
The moron who wants to report a person to the SPCA for the crime of loving and spoiling a bird has a LOT to learn about being a bird owner!!! Or even a human being !!!
2007-10-07 06:24:12 · answer #7 · answered by John P 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think there is sometimes a quality of life issue to be addressed with special needs pets, especially birds. If a bird cannot have a life doing the things birds enjoy, eating, resting comfortably, moving around, playing with toys, then the best thing to do would probably be to euthanize it. If, on the other hand, a bird can still enjoy life and do the things birds enjoy without being in pain, then by all means, kudos to the caregiver who will go the extra mile to give the bird a happy life.
My husband and I are in the process of adopting two special-needs lovebirds ourselves, youngsters who developed splayed legs as a result of poor conditions in early life, and need special perches and cage setup to avoid hurting themselves. We look forward to loving them and caring for them, even though they have needs that will be a challenge for the rest of their lives. Good luck to your friend.
2007-10-07 06:12:06 · answer #8 · answered by Cori 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Whoever said that she should be reported to the SPCA is just biased. I think it's great that your friend chose to raise the bird. As long as the animal wont be living in severe pain for its whole life, I think they shouldn't be put down
2007-10-07 05:57:34 · answer #9 · answered by cottonblosssom 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Three Cheers for your friend. If the bird is happy, why should it be destroyed. They adapt like humans do to their disabilities. Most people just do not want to take the time to take care of them. Your question make me cry.
2007-10-07 08:56:01 · answer #10 · answered by Joan H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋