Little White Angel

I have to say a special goodbye to the sweetest little white dove that I couldn't save today.

She was sitting in a cage at the 'sanctuary' when I went in this morning. She wasn't fluffed up but was just quiet and not right.

I picked her up to see why she was there and found a scab on her chest and some dried blood. I went to ask permission to bring her home to treat and was met with quite a hostile response. They said she had been there for a couple of days and seemed quite ok, so no.

They asked what I intended doing and so I explained I wanted to bathe the wound to check what was underneath and if needed look after her while she healed. As they wouldn't change their minds I asked if I could at least treat her there. They reluctantly agreed.
I rushed home to get what I needed and went back.

She was so quiet and let me pick her up and I started to bathe the wound. I could see she had feathers sticking out from under the scab and new she had a puncture wound.
It may have been better in some ways that I did it there as I was able to ensure the warden saw what I found.

He was horrified when I pulled the feathers out and we saw she must have been shot ,the wound was already infected and very very large.

I was given permission to take her then and I rushed her straight to the vets. They agreed to look at her and if she was treatable would give her back to me.
When I called back later they explained that the wound was so deep that it had entered her thoracic cavity. The vet said if I had flushed out the wound she would have died from that and it was so severe there was nothing they could do.

I sadly had to give permission for her to be euthanised as I could tell she was past help.

I feel so sad, she was a beautiful gentle little soul, and had been treated and hurt so so badly by some terrible people. Then through the negligence of the 'sanctuary' she had been denied their help and left to suffer even longer.

I pray she can forgive and that she is now at peace.

Fly free sweetheart.

I am so sorry, Janet. After reading this I had to go outside in the pouring rain and stroke My Little Angel.

Why can't they see what is so plain to you? I am glad that you were able to prove your point, maybe, maybe they will look closer in future!

Poor little baby, at least after cruelty followed by negligence she briefly experienced kindness and love.
.

I am so very sorry, Janet.
It hurts to the core when something like this happens.

Bless you for all that you were able to do.

Cynthia, I've cried a river out of anger, sadness and frustration today.

It turned out the reason they wouldn't let me take the bird was because they were annoyed I had taken the poorly Collared Dove. She maintained I had been told not to which wasn't strictly the case. I made a point of showing them the pictures of how the dove's doing but they still maintained it had been sent in by a vet and didn't need me to do anything more for it.

He was quite shocked when he saw how badly injured this little dove was and did say to his wife they needed to be more careful. She's a hard case and wouldn't admit I had been right. I knew this would happen one day and I so nearly told them what I thought of them today, but decided to hold my tongue. They're going to be very watchful of me now though and I will have great difficulty getting them to let me help any more birds from now on.

It may be that I will have to stop going if that's the case as I'm going to find it too upsetting if I see a bird that needs help and have to leave it there.

I will see how things are next time.

Give your Little Angel a kiss.

Janet

What a heart breaking situation. Poor little thing. Thank goodness you were there to offer some comfort.
I'd have a difficult time with the attitude too.

I’m sorry Janet, at least her suffering is over. :(
You cannot change people, but you can change their behavior. They are there to do their job. Most of the people do not care much to do job properly. It is 8 to 5 pass-time for what they get paid. Criticism only creates resistance in people. If you make friend there, you may convince him/her to phone you when there is new arrival. This may make difference in some other’s bird fate.

Janet, this just made me cry. How hard and ignorant can people be? Why do people work in a job like this when they do not have compassion? Taking care of other living creatures needs so much compassion. There must be better ways to earn money when this is the most important thing for them. I hardly dare to imagine what pain this little angel must have felt. And for those who have caused this - may they burn in *hell* - I mean it! - God may forgive - I don't!!!

pigeonwriter wrote:

Janet, this just made me cry. How hard and ignorant can people be? Why do people work in a job like this when they do not have compassion? Taking care of other living creatures needs so much compassion. There must be better ways to earn money when this is the most important thing for them. I hardly dare to imagine what pain this little angel must have felt. And for those who have caused this - may they burn in *hell* - I mean it! - God may forgive - I don't!!!

I have to say what I've wished on the person who hurt this angel just can't be repeated, I've thought of nothing else all day.

I did phone the 'sanctuary' today to report the sad outcome and what the vet had said and at least he thanked me for taking the bird. Unfortunately the main function of this place is an outdoor activity centre for children and the staff aren't employed based on their love of animals. That doesn't excuse the wardens for not at least inspecting any new birds for injuries, and if they aren't prepared to do anything for them at least ask the person that brings it in to take it to a vets to be checked over.

Plamen, I must just explain in answer to your suggestion, you're quite right, I had hoped I could change their attitude.. BUT..... I have been volunteering there for over five years and have done all I can to instigate what you suggested, believe me I have offered to be on call for any bird needing help so many times. I just don't know why they won't let me do more, I cost them nothing. I am so so nice to them, it even makes me sick how nice I have to be at times and bite my tongue when i hit a brick wall.
They retire next year, they won't change now I fear.

I'm so sorry, Janet!
Sorry that the Little White Angel couldn't be saved, sorry for what she went through, and sorry for the situation you find yourself in. It takes an overwhelming love for your feathered friends to give you the strength to bite your tongue when people are being so insensitive and stupid!
You said those people are retiring in a year -- I hope and pray that they will be replaced by someone much more compassionate, someone who will treat you like a real team member: with the friendship and respect you deserve.
Hang on in there! WE appreciate you!

Sorry, this was my first thought – being nice.
Second action will be to report facility on higher level. Probably there are some book of rules and procedures when accepting new animal. If not driven by humanity for animals and birds, then maybe by fear from retrenchment before retirement.
One year is not a long time, but measured in suffering, pain and lost lives may be quite a long period.