Virgil in need of friends and a forever home...

Hello Everyone,
I am in desperate need of a home for a disabled feral pigeon. I found him in December with a severely broken wing. With the help of the ALWAYS amazing Charis (can I just say how lucky I am to know this woman!) and a very kind vet, he had part of his wing amputated. He is now fully rehabilitated and ready to find his soul mate!
I named him Virgil, but call him Mr. Feisty, as he is quite a pecker and a wing slapper when I stick my hand in his cage. I wish I could keep him, but I want to keep space open for the next rescue and he seems VERY, VERY lonely. I have a one bedroom house (he currently resides in a cage in my bedroom) and 3 cats, so he can't have free roam of the house.
An ideal home would be on the west coast, someone with a current flock so he can have friends, a safe contained environment (but not a cage), and most importantly a wife! He is a very sweet bird and has been through so much, I really want him to have a great life.
This is Virgil after the amputation.




And this is Virgil today!

He looks great, Faon...much different than the bird you brought over here in December.

Faon told me this morning that he sits in his nest and call to a mate...he is very lonely and to fill his days...he has taken up with a stuffed hedgehog.

Some perfect hen will reveal herself...I just know it.

Virgil looks wonderful. You have done a great job of caring for him.
I will think positive thoughts that you are able to find a wonderful forever home for him.

Hi. Virgil is adorable. You have done a great job with him, and yes, I agree that he should have a home and a sweetheart. I would be interested in trying to pair him up with my handicapped rescue Cricket. She had a broken wing which looked like a dog or something had chewed through, which never healed so that she could fly. She can flutter up to the shelves and tables in the loft, and even has a box in the second row up, which she can get to without flying. The loft has been made handicap accessible, so he would be able to get around. Even the bath out in the aviary is accessible to handicapped birds who cannot fly. I would love it if he and Cricket became an item, but if not, I'm sure in time the right little rescue for him would come along. I hadn't seen this thread, but of course Charis called me. She knows about my little cricket and thinks it might be a good match. The only thing is that I am on the East coast. If you can find a way to get him here, I would be glad to help you with the expenses. I'll post a picture of my little Cricket. And I'll email or PM you my phone number, if you would like to talk.

And here's Cricket, who is also in need of a loving mate.

The pics are kind of out of order. Here she is today



And here she is almost a year ago


Another last summer. I just my book, and she has been here since Aug. of '08. She's filled out beautifully.

...

I hope something can be worked out. Please do keep us posted, Faon and Jay.

If this can be worked out, I will surely keep you posted.

NiteOwl wrote:

If this can be worked out, I will surely keep you posted.

Oh, they would make such a lovely couple!
I hope it works out!

I talked to Faon today and an airline ticket for Virgil is amazingly affordable. She still is checking on other airlines but it very well could be that Virgil is going to be a reverse pioneer.

Faon,
We'll be looking for an update. :Yes:

Me too!

I love being a Pigeon Pimp! I think I'm good at it.

Oh you are my friend, you are.

Thank you all for your support! NiteOwl has been SOOO incredibly kind in offering a home to Virgil. (NiteOwl: I replied to your message, but I am not sure I sent it correctly!) Cricket is beautiful, I know Virgil would just love her!! It just seems like the perfect situation for him. I have called around 6 airlines so far, it seems Continental is the only option so far...and not a great one. Since he would be flying alone, he would have to travel as cargo. They have assured me the area is temperature controlled and that they send 300-400 animals this way everyday. The cost is good; $75.00 plus $12 for fuel surcharge. However, they are very limiting in the time of day that they fly in addition to transfers and layovers. I am calling a pet transportation service, at Charis' suggestion, tomorrow. I will let you know what I find out.

persimmonspea

That is really a great price. Twice as much as mailing but so worth it.
I wonder if there is a limit to the amount of birds we can put in a kennel?

Owl...we can send you a flock.

I'm loving this thread and story. I know Virgil and Cricket will make a perfect pair. :Yes:

Flying animals as cargo is a very safe way of transport. I adopted two rescue dogs at two different times that were flown in........one from Texas and the other from Georgia. The airlines were very particular in making sure they had food and water, that the cage had sufficient room for the dogs to stand up and turn around and they tripled checked all the info on the airway bills. The carriers were hand carried to and from the plane. The price quoted seems reasonable. For me it is worth every penny to avoid the confustion and risks involved with shippping via USPS.

Can't wait to see these two wonderful handicapped birds united.

Louise

persimmonspea wrote:

Thank you all for your support! NiteOwl has been SOOO incredibly kind in offering a home to Virgil. (NiteOwl: I replied to your message, but I am not sure I sent it correctly!) Cricket is beautiful, I know Virgil would just love her!! It just seems like the perfect situation for him. I have called around 6 airlines so far, it seems Continental is the only option so far...and not a great one. Since he would be flying alone, he would have to travel as cargo. They have assured me the area is temperature controlled and that they send 300-400 animals this way everyday. The cost is good; $75.00 plus $12 for fuel surcharge. However, they are very limiting in the time of day that they fly in addition to transfers and layovers. I am calling a pet transportation service, at Charis' suggestion, tomorrow. I will let you know what I find out.

persimmonspea

Hi. No, I didn't see a message, but I'll check again. That is what my loft is for. Rescued pijjies. And you sure did an amazing job with rescuing this one. He's a very lucky little bird to have been cared for by you. I think he would make a great addition to our little flock. And the loft is set up for a handicapped bird to be able to get around. My birds are my pets, and he would be spoiled rotten just like everyone else. We have fun here. And I can post updates and pics. I'll be curious to hear about the pet transportation service.

Matilda wrote:

That is really a great price. Twice as much as mailing but so worth it.
I wonder if there is a limit to the amount of birds we can put in a kennel?

Owl...we can send you a flock.

I have acquired a flock, one by one by one. LOL.

Yes you have...one by one


As I recall from speaking with Faon yesterday...Virgils flight wouldn't arrive until 10:30 pm which might be kind of late although...you are both Owls, so maybe that would be OK. She was checking to see if he could arrive at a monre reasonable time.

This has been such a wonderful story.
For sure we will all be waiting for an arrival update and of course pictures as time permits.

Well of course an earlier hour would be great. Unless it was a weekend. Than it doesn't matter what time it is. But if not, we will work it out. I'm kind of excited to meet him.

Fancyfeathers wrote:

This has been such a wonderful story.
For sure we will all be waiting for an arrival update and of course pictures as time permits.

And I love taking pictures! Now I'm getting excited and probably won't sleep tonight. HootOwl is already asleep in his chair........or perch! LOL.

NiteOwl wrote:

Fancyfeathers wrote:

This has been such a wonderful story.
For sure we will all be waiting for an arrival update and of course pictures as time permits.

And I love taking pictures!

Now I'm getting excited and probably won't sleep tonight.
HootOwl is already asleep in his chair........ or perch! LOL.

And you do good!