Ya, but I'm having trouble finding a clear box I can keep him in. This fish tank thing isn't working =(

It's sealed all over the place with the nasty smelling clear rubbery material to prevent water leakage since it's a fish tank. Bird would eat that for sure and get poisoned or be affected by the chemical like fumes.

I think it's clear silicone they lined all over inside of fish tank. Am I being paranoid or would this be a bad idea? They did very sloppy job... it's all bumpy and gross and stretchy.

 

Juliet, why not go to Target or Walmart and look in the storage unit. They have clear bins there

 

Thanks I will try to do that tomorrow... most of those conatiner are plastic though... and not see through... guess I will have to look around. Maybe I can find higher quality fish tank without all this weird gunky silicone.

 

PETA doesn't want anyone to have pets.... doubt they will help with that LOL.

Silicone is stinky until it cures, but if you need something without seams, look for an acrylic fish tank or reptile tank... or you could repurpose one of those clear storage totes... something like the one on this page: http://thehandmadehippie.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/homemade-bird-hospital-box/

 

Cool, thanks for the link.

 

Just adding to the thing about anxiety about speaking in front of groups. I hate it too, I think most people do but some of us definitely cope less well with the anxiety than others. Anyways, what I have found works best for me is to pretend that I'm a confident person. I know it sounds as stupid as can be, but it really does work for me. I just do my best to act like this is something I'm good at and like it's no big deal because, hey, I do this ALL the time, I'm a super duper confident person! It works well enough to get me through whatever it is I'm trying to get through, maybe that might work for you as well?

I think that you should be able to find a clear plastic bin that would work. I can find several just by searching "clear plastic bin" at Amazon.

 

I agree with everyone, the plastic bins at most stores work great! Kiwi could climb out of the 9 inch one though, so I would get one a little higher than that.

This is the type I'm keeping Kiwi in, minus the lid: http://www.target.com/p/hefty-66-qt...y-66-qt-clear-storage-bin-gray/-/A-14757144#prodSlot=medium_1_10&term=clear+bin



That's a great idea! I think I'll practice like crazy to boost my confidence a little.

Kiwi, you're in PETA. Can you get them to focus their energy on improving animal legal laws perhaps? Because I'm in the same boat here. I want to get a U2 out of a pet store. Never let out of her cage, handled, only one toy in her cage, fed a cheap diet of sunflower seeds and junk. She's been there for YEARS and is very overpriced for being 19 years old, aggressive and not tame, but I can't afford to rescue her

I'll try and see if I can help, it takes a tragedy to change laws nowadays it seems unfortunately. Right now animal law only really covers basic needs and prohibits the extremes of animal cruelty.
Even the USDA overlooks a lot of animal cruelty and let people keep their licenses after multiple offenses. There they continue to buy animals for roadside zoos and circuses, until someone reports that the animals are suffering (again), USDA looks into it (possibly for the tenth time), they tell them to clean up their act or finally give the animals mercy and take their license away. Sometimes animals just aren't really respected in general by the government, even with the laws already in place.

PETA looks like it is pretty focused on banning animal testing right now. Which is an important step towards people accepting that animals aren't disposable and should have access to more rights than they currently have. I'm hoping the U.S. will take the way India went when they banned animal testing, expanding rights for animals since banning testing meant they had to accept an animal's individuality as another living being.

Right now, what you can do is take lots of pictures of the neglect and document them. If you can pile up enough and present it to Animal Control they can at least give them a misdemeanor or make them take better care. Make sure to follow through with Animal Control if they followed up on checking on the U2 again. If there are clear photos of negelct they could have the U2 taken away or fine the store owner. Birds should at least be handled in the back room, a cramped cage is no way to live. I don't think it would get more than a misdemeanor or warning unless you can clearly document the horrid conditions.. https://www.animallaw.info/statutes/us/california

You can also take photos and send them to animal rights organizations. They love stories like these, and really hate the people who do these things to animals. If enough publicity gets out someone may go and either buy the U2 or it will force the store owner to take care of her. Internet shaming is a powerful thing for businesses, they can't escape it as most organizations encourage people to flood their emails asking for them to change their ways. Take a picture of their store front, that will help get them moving if it's posted.
If you send it to an animal rights organization, make sure to make the description of the conditions are as heart-wrenching as possible so it will be looked into faster. How long she's been suffering like this is going to be your hook along with backing it up with multiple photos. I'm hoping the poor U2 gets help soon. ....

Edit: Most people will ask if you have talked to the owner first though. If you have then include what the owner said, if they refused to improve the conditions at all or didn't follow up on it. If you haven't talked to the owner yet maybe ask them if they can change her diet and hand them print outs of what diet a U2 should have and if they play with her at all. If they don't then they can be slammed with that. :3

 

Another thought about the court case. Since you may not gain tons of ground on the animal abuse part (tragedy, but a reality), I would try to push the approach that she neglected the agreement you had with her on the care of your pet. Like I said in a previous post, be very clear about what was accepted between you two (and if you have anything in writing or text, that would obviously help) on his care, like cleaning his cage daily, fresh food and water daily, letting him out of his cage daily, etc. Then take the approach that if she was doing all of this daily, there isn't any possible way a reasonable person (very important to compare her actions vs what the majority of people would consider reasonable) would miss his injuries and the fact that he needed to see a vet. I do think its hard to argue that any shmoe wouldn't realize that a bloody cage and bloody bird with several feathers on the floor of the cage would need a trip to the vet. I think its good that you're stressing that you're not accusing her of hurting your bird (jury's out on that one though, but that's something you'll unfortunately never be able to prove unless she outright admits it), but rather that she did not get your bird the care a reasonable person would assume Rascal needed with that kind of injury. So then you just need to take that and make a clear line from that to her neglect of getting him care causing the medical issues he's been dealing with. If you could also find info on what probably would have happened if he had seen a vet right away vs the 5 day wait, that would be good too, because the court may decide that she only owes you what you've had to pay for his care due to the lack of immediate medical care vs the care he would have needed from the initial injury anyways.

 

something like this would be perfect!!... http://www.amazon.com/Lees-Kritter-Keeper-X-Large-Rectangle/dp/B0002APZOY

 

Thanks! That would work. I wish the lid was more ventilated though... but I could easily modify it by sawing big open holes and then put a screen to covert the opening, but that would work

 

It would indeed ParrotletsRock !

 

One thing that might help is look directly at the person your talking to either the judge or a lawyer. Pretend there is no one else in the room don't glance around just focus solely on the person your talking to. Also the judge will HIGHLY doubt your case if your reading off a piece of paper. You want to appear as professional as possible and reading off a piece of paper does not look professional. Even in college and some high school classes teachers would fail you no matter how good and informative your presentation is if you were reading off a piece of paper (most are ok with note cards).

 

Seconding this. Rather than reading the report, you should just retell what happened in your own words. Just think about Rascal and how much he deserves to win this court case. It could also help if you get a little emotional, but not overdramatic. Somewhat emotional will make the judge feel sorry for you. Overdramatic will just annoy him.

Spare no details about the injury and the extensive care he's needed. Make sure the judge understands how Rascal is like a child to you, but DO NOT mention how you don't have human kids. A lot of people have prejudices against people that choose to not have kids. If someone asks if you have kids, lie and say you're infertile. Then they won't mind as much.

 

I've had to do public speaking in the past and I'm super nervous when doing it. I found that the best way was to make a note of what points I wanted to make on blank postcards in bold black letters, keep them in the order I wanted to raise the point and just glance down briefly to remind me. It worked a treat.

 

Oh, wait a second! I totally forgot that The Container Store is about 40 min from where I live. I bet they would have a nice glass container I could use... I still prefer glass as it's more pleasant to look through and isn't as "musty" or "foggy" to look through as plastic.

When I get back in town I will go to the container store and see if I can find something even better

All they sell is containers, I would be surprised if I don't find something.

 

I third the statement about human children. I wouldn't say anything and if they get on your case say you're infertile.

I don't know why people get on you if you don't want kids. People can have valid reasons. I don't want children because I don't want to pass my autism to them.

But I would stress to the judge how much Lil' Rascal means to you... maybe without the child context

 

I personally would not lie, that ruins your credibility, not to mention you re under oath. I agree with stressing why he means so much to you without saying childlike.

 

There is nothing wrong with saying I do not ever wants to have kids nor that he is like a child to me. I have NEVER wanted kids nor will I ever want kids. Simple as that. It is not for me. The world is overpopulated as it is. To be quite honest, it to a shame more people out there do not want to breed and reproduce. But it is none of their business if I don't want to have kids. I am simply going to say he is my best friend and like a child to me and to have this woman have NO regard for my beloved pet is despicable, negligent and downright abusive towards animals. Someone who does not notice a sick/dying bird in a cage for FIVE DAYS covered in blood and his bloody toys has no business taking care of any animals. Period. he was also acting sick, I immediately noticed this... puffed up sleeping when he is usually bright and happy... not to mention half his wings were suddenly missing!

I have to run to walmart now to buy a plastic container so that I don't have to waste time at "the container store" when I get back and can get him out of that place faster

 

This is not good, she said he must remain at the clinic for another entire week. He has already been there for a whole week. if he wasn't still being tube fed twice a day i could have brought him home. I will have to ask ehr how much longer he will be tube fed... because they don't let you tube feed at home and I have no idea how to to tube feed propbley. Poor bird has eben there for froever already =(

 

Yay! Are you bringing Rascal home?

 

No they won't let me until they restest his liver because his liver is in bad shape (he is not out of the woods yet). They will retest it in about 6 days... if results are good then he comes home

I am going to try to get him home sooner.. because if they stop tube feeding him in a couple days then I see no reason for him to stay there longer. The fact that he's still being tube fed... makes it not possible for him to come home.

 

Oh, I see. I posted too soon. At least they're making sure Rascal is fully recovered before you bring him home.

 

Still great that the kidney's are good! Do they think he has a fracture at all?

I hope that the liver results are good and that Rascal gets off the feeding tube soon.

For kids I think I'd only adopt. There are so many people in the world and so many kids in orphanages. I feel like there are so many wonderful kids there, I would feel terrible not adopting.

 

Still great that the kidney's are good! Do they think he has a fracture at all?

I hope that the liver results are good and that Rascal gets off the feeding tube soon.

I don't know if he has fracture... I'm going to ask her if he should have x-rays. I'm mostly worried about his liver. Even if he had a fracture... I don't know what could be done about it.

If his liver is fine when it's retested in a few days AND he maintains weight when they stop tube feeding, then he should be out of the woods

I miss him so much =(

 

If it's a fracture, all they would need to do is align it and then it will heal on its own. It's good to find out fast so it doesn't start healing itself like that. Right now his liver is more important as it could be threatening to his health. A fracture wont heal that fast so you still have time for x-rays and to align it I think.

I can't imagine being away from Kiwi for too long if she was like that. Even one day was torture. Are you going to visit him today? Maybe give him a hug. x3

 

If it's a fracture, all they would need to do is align it and then it will heal on its own. It's good to find out fast so it doesn't start healing itself like that. Right now his liver is more important as it could be threatening to his health. A fracture wont heal that fast so you still have time for x-rays and to align it I think.

Shoot, in that case I need to push for x-ray. He REALLY got banged up badly... I hope he didn't fracture anything. I will call the vet tomorrow morning. Thanks.

PS: If he did fracture anything, I think something on his wings would have fractured. Just a guess.

 

I would ask the vet if he is ok to go under for an x-ray before doing it. It's just a tiny bit of gas so it shouldn't hurt, but If he is in a bad condition because of his liver then it may not be a good idea yet. It's one of those things where you don't know which is the greater evil yet. Of course if there is a fracture on his wing he might not be able to fly as well when it heals wrong and arthritis if it went into a joint... or he could have breathing difficulties and pain with a fractured keel. The vet should be able to kind of tell by feeling around the keel, it would be hard to tell on the wing with those injuries.

Edit: Posted too fast. My vet told me that fractures can take as little as three weeks to set though so you would have to do it soon.

 

I don't know... putting him under gas right now for x-ray doesn't seem like good idea. I will ask the vet what she thinks... but my other concern is that she might mainly want xrays to make more money!! I read reviews on this vet from other patients saying she did this and that just for the money and that this vet is money hungry!! I am not surprised though.

 

Yeah I also thought it wasn't a good idea. The only problem is that they heal really fast, Kiwi's dislocation was set in a few days and was unmovable. I just wanted to let you know so that once his liver is healed you are prepared that the fracture could be starting to set.

When his liver is doing poorly I wouldn't put him under either. I would just ask if she thinks he has a fracture or not.

I've heard stories of a similar vet in my area who seemed to hate people and animals and charged them a lot more than other places for the same kinds of treatments. I don't know how that place is still in business. I hope that she wont try and sacrifice Rascal's well being for anything.

 

Just like in humans once the fracture starts healing in order to realine it they would have to rebreak it then realine and seeing as he has been through so much pain as it is I wouldn't have it done personally. The x rays could help you if he did indeed fracture anything it will further the abuse case but personally I wouldn't have them realine it at this point.

 

I strongly agree with Colorgarder08- The little darling has been through a lot,let s wait until his liver is recovering,this is the most important,and then ,Juliet ,try to bring him home . He has been there for far too long, he needs to go back to his home and be looked after for the person that much loves him in this world - You ! Do you not agree X x Teresa

 

That bird's been through enough. Forget about xrays. It's risking his life no matter how 'safe' anyone says it is. I nearly lost my bird because of how 'safe' the anesthesia was and yes, it was administered by an avian vet who knew what she was doing. Of course they have their place in diagnosis and treatment but seems out of line here.
Also, anyone who has been seriously ill and hospitalized can tell you that it can take a year or more to feel like yourself again. You feel a persistent weakness and energy loss because of what happened to you. Only stands to reason that same can be expected for a bird. Rascal needs to come home as soon as he is eating enough on his own to be done with tube feeding.

 

Maybe call one of the other two vets and explain the situation with the liver and the vet said they couldn't be moved, but ask what their opinion on x-rays would be before asking that vet? That way you can get the other professionals that care about animals opinion instead of worrying about your current vet cheating you on that.

 

I'm just catching up from Friday. I'm so glad to hear that Rascal is doing better and I'm also glad to hear that he's getting milk thistle. Hopefully he continues to improve and you can bring him home soon.