Warning: Photos are graphic and disturbing. If you have a sensitive stomach, read this in the bathroom. And by the way, I selected the most tasteful photos sent to me.

First, you’re horrified. You can’t believe what you’re seeing. It’s like watching a traffic accident. Then, you cry. Finally, you get really angry. I’m talking really pissed off. In the past week I have heard of two hoarding situations in the last week in which dozens and dozens of birds were kept in deplorable conditions and required outside assistance and funding to try to make everything right. What in God’s name is going on here and what started this? What the hell? Who’s bright idea was it to get a bunch of birds, cram them in cages and try and keep up with the resulting mess? Well, I’ll tell you. It’s us.

Whether we like to admit it or not, the people who are responsible for these tragedies are indeed members of the avian community. They may be the Wicked Step-Mother, the “Jerky Brother-in-Law” or even the Columbine Killers of our community, but they are indeed “Keepers of Birds.” If that’s what you want to call it.

I can hear some people thinking, “Oh, no they’re not! I would never end up like that! That’s just awful!”

Yes, it is awful.  And I’ll bet that when these people got their first bird,they never imagined the environment would end up like this: 

Or this: 

I refuse to believe that the people responsible for this unholy hoard of hell meant for this to happen. But it did. And now that it did, they refuse to give up the birds, and want the relinquished birds back. I don’t know how this makes any sense, but that’s what has been related to me.

“There but for the grace of God go I.” I’m not big on religious imagery but it’s fitting.

The difference in this particular mess is the fact that this guy set these birds up to breed. Obviously things didn’t work out too well for him.  What he ended up with was heinous, and hideous. But he didn’t see it. He couldn’t see it, because if he could, he never would have let it get in this condition.

Many would ask, “Where was his family?”

I can’t answer that.

“Where were his friends?”

I can’t answer that one either.

All I know is that now that the cavalry has arrived, it has become a fight. The Troy, Ohio homeowner is furious and wants the birds he signed over, returned to him. Why? He didn’t feed them, didn’t take care of them, and now he wants them back? Bite me. I’m sorry, but I don’t even think this is a bowl of water anymore. It’s a bowl of pathogens:

It reminds me of the news story I read a while back about how Michael Vick asked to have a dog for his family. He was kidding, right?

I always have the same thing go through my mind whenever I see crap like this: What did those birds ever do to deserve that? Nothing. They are innocent victims of this Avian Auschwitz. It simply slays me. The twisted part of this entire situation is that I’m afraid the law is probably going to be on his side. I’m all for the rights of the individual. But not when it gives him license to kill. The Miami Valley Rescue is a young and new rescue on the scene. They’re probably going to need to get an attorney now and fight the man responsible for this mess.

My first instinct is to run my boney rear end up there and help. But it’s a standoff right now and it seems that the Humane Officer wants to give the Breeder two weeks to “clean up the premises.” 

Umm, no. First of all, the birds remaining won’t last two weeks in those conditions. And how in the hell are you going to clean this up in two weeks? And how would you do this with 80 birds flying loose in there? The chemicals needed to clean this trash heap up would probably kill them. They probably have respiratory issues due to inhaling all the crap in the air as it is.


Something else really honks me off: If these were dogs or cats, they would have been out of there weeks ago.

So, I’m doing what I can to help those already involved. I’m trying to get the word out and get people to donate through Pay Pal and some of the generous retailers who posted replies on my previous post. But the case is still in a state of flux: The Humane Officer will not release the birds but it is clear that these birds are going to need Vet work and testing.

Kim Seitzs of the Miami Valley Bird Rescue has set up their Pay Pal account to handle the cost of the Vet visits, once this entire debacle plays out. There are going to be big costs for those plates used for cultures, medications, outside lab work etc. Go to Pay Pal and search this email address to donate for Vet costs:

kseitz63@frontier.com 

While the case is still in a state of flux, the media has its nose in the wind and are beginning to get interested in this case. Once pressure has been put on the local authorities, we might see some movement. Right now, it seems to me that the family involved has become defensive. Fine. But these photos are indefensible.

 

I’m a big believer in education. And I’m a huge believer in information. But I’m not sure there is redemption underneath all of this chaos.