Hello-
I'm forwarding this message on in the hopes that someone in the Brentwood
area can assist Beth to assess the well-being of these birds and assist in
improving their care to whatever extent possible.
Beth's contact info is bethpforr@yahoo.com and 925-516-4869
Thank you,
Elizabeth
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Elisabeth Pforr
Date: Sun, Nov 13, 2011 at 7:52 PM
Subject: I need some backup
To: Mickaboo Outreach
Cc: Elizabeth Young
I have been watching (and visiting) the outdoor aviary at a private
(Charter??) school here in Brentwood. In the aviary, which is hardly a
fancy build, they have four ring-neck doves, a dark color pigeon with both
a red and a blue band one on each leg, plus a cockatiel (female from the
colors) and a small parrot which I judge to be either a senegal or a
Pionus. I happened to stop by to see how the geese they have in their
small barnyard, and that is when I discovered the birds.
The aviary is exposed on all four sides with some wallboard with the wire
netting in places. I noted that the place looked neglected, by my
standards since I care for 13 birds. Every few days I go to check on them
and I see that the 3 or 4 small bowls of water are all dirty and some have
algae in the bottom. I spoke to the man who is the original and present
owner of the property, which once was the family home decades ago.
He knows me quite well as a few years ago I complained (even to Animal
Control) about the geese they were keeping and that the pens were much too
small for the size and numbers of the geese. There is a public trail
running alongside this barnyard type property. They still have the geese
and a huge sow plus some pheasants and chickens. All supposedly for the
children (very young toddlers up to jr. high school.) to see. Passersby,
runners, etc. use the trail and can see the animals. The owner proudly
showed me a run which he had constructed so the geese and sow have a place
outside their pens for exercise; he even gave me a moment of credit because
I had complained about that few yrs back.
I am about to make a strong complaint with him again about the birds. He
told me that when it is "very cold" they are put inside in a room. We are
already having very cold, damp nights but I do not know whether they have
been inside or not (I doubt it.) He said there is a person responsible for
the birds, but I will complain that whoever that is (a woman according to a
Mexican handyman I saw there today, Sunday; he told me she never is there
on weekends.) I have been worrying every night about the parrot and
cockatiel especially, since they are NOT wild birds. He said they have
been there 4 years, but I also doubt that.
There is no shelter arrangement for these two birds to go in out of the
cold or wind. I have E-mailed a carpenter yesterday to try to get an
estimate on a simple shelter house for inside the aviary, but have not
heard from him yet, and I do not know whether the owner of the school will
accept my idea. But the birds do not have adequate protection from the
cold and it bothers me greatly. I also feel angry that whoever has "their
responsibility" does not take care of the birds. They certainly should
have fresh water once every day, as you will agree. I will take all these
things up with the man who owns the property and does a lot of the
maintenance from what I observe. Incidentally, Dr. Speer's children
attended there when the same couple had the school as now, but they are now
attending college. I have considered asking him about this but don't want
to make an issue just yet as they might try to tell me not to go on their
property if I anger him. Is there anyone *in Mickaboo *who lives in
this area (Brentwood, Antioch, Oakley, Pittsburg etc.) who would be willing
to go over with me to see this arrangement? I feel very concerned for the
birds and wonder if they could have or get rheumatism from being out in the
cold nights. I am sorry to trouble you but I want to see what can be
done to better their living conditions. I left the Mickaboo & CSAA folders
with him; along with some cockatiel and pigeon foods. My tel. no.
is 925-516-4869. Thank you for any help you may offer.
Beth Pforr, Brentwood
--
Elizabeth
*MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue - Join us at
https://www.facebook.com/MickaCooRescue*
Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt.
www.RescueReport.org
www.MickaCoo.org
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0
