A Very Special Bird Being Auctioned For A Very Special Cause

[TAWhatley]

Check out this very special bird being auctioned starting on Monday, June 13, 2005!

http://www.pigeonauctions.com/lot.cfm?lotID=11846

This magnificent bird has been generously donated by Judy at Hapyco Lofts to help raise funds to pay for veterinary care for an extremely needy and unclaimed banded pigeon that came through the 911 Pigeon Alert group.

Terry

[relofts]

This is the story that I had said I wanted to share with everyone, I had to wait until now to give you all an ending.

A while back there was a pigeon found in the Florida Area the bird was an AU banded pigeon and the band number was "AU 2004 HRPC 0072" the first finder Lori McNamara was advised of the club contact and tried to contact the band secretary to see if the owner could be located, well she did not receive a call back and had been advised on feeding, caring, and releasing the pigeon because at that time the bird was fine after some R&R and could continue it's journey, the bird was released and it was thought to of flown home and the case was listed as resolved.

Well the bird was located again now in Miami, Florida this time the finder was a doctor and the bird had some serious injuries and it came through to the 911 Pigeon Alert Group as a emergency assistance needed and the finders were in a panic. I then tried to contact the club secretary and the person that answered the phone did not speak English as well as the other club members I tried and unfortunately I did not speak Cuban, the pigeon was then transferred to a rescue rehabber right away to care for the pigeon until we could figure out how to contact the owner as the finder was getting totally upset over the time it was taking, I then called Jay Holder in Florida and he referred me to Freddie Rivera the zone director whom was fluent in both languages, well as the story goes I gave Freddie the contact information for the rescue rehabber and he contacted a person in the area to retrieve this seriously injured pigeon, well the number that I gave to Freddie for the rehabber was not correct unfortunately and the pigeon was getting more serious, the injuries were very serious and the pigeon was going down fast and the Rescue Rehabber who's name is "Reti" is dedicated to help save pigeons in need of her assistance and she decided if she did not hear from anyone by Monday as she received the bird on Friday she would take the pigeon to her vet to have cared for, well because of the phone number being in the data base with a typo that I had provided the contact person for the local club could not reach the rehabber.

Monday came and "Reti" took the pigeon to be cared for by her vet that determined the pigeons injuries were very serious but they would treat the pigeon. Diagnosis The bird had an open fracture with necrotic bone and infection in the unbanded leg, the other leg unfortunately had a lump which was an abscess, Dr. K. had to remove the band because it was cutting off the circulation. Dr. K. had to cut out the necrotic bone, set the fracture and pin it, surgery took 6 hours. It took four x-rays during surgery to get it right. The pins have to stay in for four weeks. The bill was $521. For the work he did, he gave a $375 discount, the surgery is $600 normally. The leg was very swollen and the pigeon was given Metacam and some other antibiotic and will need assistance with feedings and medication for a month.

Well the pigeon now has a name and this rehabber named him Giocomo, he went for his follow-up on May 18, 2005 and it was determine the abscesses on the leg were pox and had additional abscesses, the leg with the pens in it was x-rayed and it did not show signs of healing yet.

Return visit to vet for checkup on June 3, 2005 shows improvement the leg is now healing perfectly. The bones are connected by a nice callus which is well forming. The leg is stable. Dr. k took out the pins and he bled quite a lot, so the rehabber had to spend again the whole day there, she is fine now, though. The rehabber couldn't be any happier on Sunday "Reti" can take her off the baytril. June 11, 2005 Giocomo is completely healed at this time.

I wanted to share this with everyone and go a little further, I contacted Judy Brooks about this situation with Giocomo and explained how it all happened, Judy the generous person she is offered to contribute a pigeon to go up for auction to assist with the vet bills that Reti incurred so she picked out a Super Vernazza Cock bred and by Hapyco Lofts and Randy from the World of Wings offered to place the bird up for auction and do the photography at no cost to assist Reti, well the bird is now up for auction and can be viewed at http://www.pigeonauctions.com/lot.cfm?lotID=11846 as well as his pedigree, now I can say that you may end up bidding against Judy as she has mentioned that she may buy her own bird back because he is such great quality, if you follow the link you will see his lineage as well as a picture and you will be very impressed with what you see, and besides getting a wonderful bird you will be helping what a lot feel is a wonderful cause.

Now just to let everyone know the Rescue rehabbers do try to get the banded pigeons back to the owners when possible to care for, they also are aware that while Judy has so generously agreed to help, this is not something that they can depend on happening again and should they need to take a pigeon to the vet it is very likely at their own expense, but in this case it has worked out, many thanks to Judy Brooks from Hapyco Lofts www.hapycolofts.com

Ellen