Papayago Rescue House, Inc.: COVID-19 Operation Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

Food (fresh and pelleted) and nuts.

We were able to sustain the rescue with 1.5 months of food. Our intake went up by 20 birds due to COVID.

How many pets did this grant help?

140

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

We were able to feed our birds and to save a little cockatiel. Pat’s mom came to us with a heartbreaking story. Her grandmother had dementia and had a cockatiel who had passed away. Due to her fragile state, the family decided to get a replacement cockatiel and named her Pat. Grandma passed away but before she did, she requested that the family take good care of Pat. They promised.

Not too much later, Pat was living with the adult granddaughter and Pat’s wing showed signs of a cyst or tumor. Pat was taken to several vets and each gave a similar diagnosis that she had a feather cyst and that it would go away. It did not. It turned into a tumor. The University of Alabama said they would take care of the tumor but it would cost about $1,500.

Pat’s mom called us to see if we could help. We told her we would try. Pat arrived the following weekend from Alabama with a plug of feather and removed skin that Pat tried to remove herself. We took Pat in and started her on a better diet and a daily wound-care regimen. We got Pat right in to see our vet, Dr. Tracy Adams. We were able to get the tumor removed and Pat gained 20 grams in no time.

She is now healthy and happy with many more years to live and thrive. Thank you for helping us help our avian community.