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Wings of Love Bird
Haven, Inc. rescues domestic companion birds (conure-size
and larger), rehabilitates them and places them into new
forever homes within Texas. We are an outreach and placement
program that obtains and places exotic birds that have
been abandoned, mistreated, abused or are otherwise in
need of a new home, into safe custody.
Wings of Love Bird Haven began operating in 2003 and became
a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in February 2005. |
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BACKGROUND
Wings of Love Bird Haven
formed when a group of concerned bird lovers became aware of
the huge numbers of abused and neglected companion birds and
wanted to help.
Why are so many birds unwanted? Although birds are the third
most popular pet in the United States, they are often relinquished
by their owners for a variety of reasons: a change in circumstances,
an inability to address unacceptable behaviors or a lack of
time to provide adequate care. Many bird owners become disillusioned
with the time and care that an exotic bird requires. Birds can
also outlive their guardians, as their average lifespans are
much longer than other pets—from 20 to 100 years depending
on the species. As a result, companion birds frequently pass
from home to home—doomed to a life of inconsistency.
Wings of Love Bird Haven offers these owners an alternative
to “passing the bird” to yet another potentially unsuitable
situation and guarantees the continued care for the bird in
a situation that will be the best for the individual bird--a
home that is informed and committed to the bird's welfare -
for its life.
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MISSION
The Wings of Love Bird Haven mission
is two-fold: to rescue and provide assistance to birds that
need help, and to educate current and new bird owners in the
proper care of their companion birds. We work both with individuals
who adopt from the Haven and those who own or want to own a
companion bird.
Wings of Love Bird Haven's goal and desire is to place all birds
in a loving forever home as family pets. Our qualified volunteer
staff work with the birds and learn about their needs for their
best possible future placement. When placement isn't possible
due to severe health or behavioral issues, the birds remain
at the Haven until we can place them into a pre-approved permanent
sanctuary or a long-term foster setting. There they will be
given love and care for the remainder of their lives.
We do not purchase birds, nor do we sell, trade or use birds
in our care for
commerce or profit.
In addition: |
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* We
promote responsible guardianship of all captive birds. |
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* We promote education
on all issues of avian welfare. |
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* We oppose
the selling of unweaned baby birds and production
breeding methods. |
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* We
do not breed birds that are adopted into the Haven nor
do
we place any adoptable birds into breeding
situations. |
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* We
do not adopt more than one bird out to a family or individual
at a time unless these birds came in
together and are a bonded
pair. We suggest at least 3-6 months
between adoptions. |
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* We
strongly discourage the mass-marketing and selling of
birds
through pet store chains, bird marts,
and Internet venues. |
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WHO WE SERVE?
From our beginning WOL Bird Haven
has taken in companion birds from tiny finches all the way to
the large Hyacinth Macaws. Unfortunately, due to funding, space
and lack of enough volunteer help, we have had to make changes
in this procedure. As of April 1st 2008, we will only be able
to take in birds from conure size and up. In other words, we
will no longer be able to take in finch, lovebirds, budgies,
canaries or cockatiel. This has been a very hard decision for
our board to make, however one we had no choice in if we wanted
to give the best care possible to the birds that were brought
here.
We operate in the state of Texas. We began focusing only on
the DFW area but soon learned that this area wasn't large enough
to find the number of good qualifying homes we needed so we
branched out to other parts of Texas. We are currently striving
to place home-checkers throughout the entire state of Texas.
If you are interested in being a home-checker for us in your
area please let us know via email. We can send you the application.
We are available for support, information sharing and referral
to current bird owners to help them enjoy and live with these
beautiful creatures.
For companion birds that unfortunately cannot remain in their
current home, we offer care for them at the Haven until future
adoption homes can be found. We are not a long-term sanctuary.
Through screening, education and support we will act responsibly
to facilitate committed, stable new homes that are matched to
an individual birds temperament and needs.
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WHO IS RUNNING WINGS OF LOVE BIRD HAVEN?
Wings of Love Bird Haven has board
members that work together to make the decisions of how the
Haven should be organized. On a day to day basis however the
Executive director along with a few volunteers take care of
the routine needs of the birds at the Haven.
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WHY ARE THERE ADOPTION FEES?
Having a rescue means veterinarian
care, supply costs, utility bills, and food costs just to make
a few. Birds require medical attention just as other animals.
All of these expenses add up greatly, and the adoption fees
help to provide these needs.
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WHAT IS MEANT BY PERMANENT HOMES?
Birds can live a very long time.
Some as many as 100 years or more. When a caregiver takes in
a bird from the Haven, they are agreeing to keep that bird and
care for it in the best possible care for as long as they possibly
can. Anyone adopting a bird through Wings of Love Bird Haven,
Inc. agrees to not sell or otherwise rehome any adopted bird
during the first three years of the adoption. If for any reason
you are not able to continue caring for the bird during this
first three years you are REQUIRED to relinguish the bird back
to Wings of Love Bird Haven, Inc. After the three years is up,
the Haven no longer can mandate this, however we ask that if
at any time you are not able to continue caring for the bird,
you consider returning the bird back to Wings of Love Bird Haven
to be placed in another kind and caring home. We go the "extra
mile" to be sure the home we choose to place a bird in
is the best possible placement for that bird.
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CAN RELINQUISHING OWNER CHOOSE THE
NEW CAREGIVER?
Surrendering owners give
up all rights and claims to the birds. However, surrendering
owners may make certain reasonable suggestions regarding the
birds upon the release such as: suggesting an individual caretaker,
specifying a reasonable adoption procedure, requesting that
certain birds be kept together. We do what we can to honor these
requests.
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WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR IN ADOPTIVE/FOSTER PARENTS?
1.) Must be
18 years of age or older
2.) No smoking in the home --- period
3.) Must not do any bird breeding
4.) Must live within the state of Texas (Exceptions
only for special needs
birds or special circumstances)
5.) Must be willing to drive to the Haven to pick
up the bird upon adoption
6.) Be willing to volunteer, take training classes,
etc. as required
7.) Be willing to always feed fresh food--- not
only pellets and seeds
8.) Give the bird plenty of out of cage time daily
9.) Understand and eliminate the use of teflon products
and other
chemicals in the home
10.) Agree to an in-home check initially, as well as during
the first 3
years after adoption. Agree
to ocassional contact from Wings of
Love Bird Haven, Inc
11.) Agree to relinquish the bird back to Wings of Love Bird
Haven, Inc. if
at any time you can
no longer take care of it for any reason. If it is
necessary for relinquishment
no fee will be reimbursed
12.) Sign the agreement/contract
13.) I'm sure there are more--- I'll add them later
If you feel you qualify,
please fill out our Foster
Forms & Info
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WOL BOARDMEMBERS
DeAnn W. Executive Director
de@bird-haven.org
"I can’t even IMAGINE life without my birds.
I have always had animals, ever since I was
a young child. We’ve had mice, rabbits, dogs, cats,
turtles, ferrets, horses….I even had a bird when
I was younger, but not until I was an adult did I find
my TRUE PASSION. I just love them. My first birds as an
adult were cockatiels. At the time we got them, I really
started seeing my interest in them in a whole new light.
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Through my reading and
research, I realized just how many were being abused and
treated unfairly. I realized that we (people in general)
had taken these birds out of their natural habitat, and
unfairly locked them up. We tried to fit them into “our
world” instead of letting them be as God created
them to be. It was at that time, I decided I needed to
do something about it. Wings of Love Bird Haven, Inc.
was established for the purpose of taking in these abused,
sick and needy birds. We also strive hard to educate the
public on what it takes to keep a bird healthy and happy".
DeAnn is married to husband Stanley for 27 years and has
3 grown children.
Favorite passtime "away" from the birds is fellowshipping
with friends and family,
helping people understand how to get and remain "healthy",
and reading Christian books. |
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Meghan C.
meghan@bird-haven.org
Meghan is a recent addition to our board. She lives in
Keller with her husband, Bill. Their family consists of
7 ducks (Dixon, Clemens, Eugene, Musgrave, Miller, Harrington
Jr, Masoli), 4 parrots (IRN- Goji, DYH -Butch, CAG - Robert,
B&G - Lou Lou), 3 rabbits (Myron, Marge, Herby), and
2 cocker spaniels (Abby, Mo). Meghan has always owned
dogs and could not imagine her life without them. It was
not until recently, when Goji stole her heart, that she
found her love and appreciation for parrots. She started
volunteering at the Bird Haven about a year ago. She enjoys
creating fun toys for the birds at the Haven and helping
with the monthly
adoption days at Kookaburra Bird Shop. She and Bill also
foster and rehabilitate ducks and rabbits for another
local rescue. |
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Cindy
L.
cindy@bird-haven.org
Cindy's primary position at the Haven is designing a user-interface
friendly web site and as a volunteer. Having worked in
marketing and design for more than 10 years, she'll be
using that experience to update the Haven's web site and
marketing materials. Cindy and her husband have three
parrots at present. The current flock is lulu the cockatiel,
Kif the Senegal and Butters (formerly Cariad adopted from
the Haven).
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Debbie S.
debbie@bird-haven.org
Debbie’s position at the Haven, although mostly an “in the background” job has benefited us immensely. She is responsible for creating a database from scratch to help us keep up with all the adopters, volunteers, surrenders and birds that have ever been connected to the Haven in any way. This is a huge task, but Debbie has spent many hours helping to make sure the project gets completed. It is still being worked on—but we should be up to date on this soon—updating files from as far back as 2003. Debbie has also helped a lot with research that needs to be done in different situations… including but not limited to items we want donated, companies who might be willing to sponsor us with funding, grant research, and more. She has and will continue to be a huge help here at the Haven.
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ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERSHIP
Dr. Pilar Fish--- DVM
Dr. Dustan Clark--- DVM, PhD
David N. Phalen, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ABVP (Avian)
Lainey A.--- herbs and nutrition for birds
Machelle P.--- Bird (Species Specific) Nutrition
Zahara A. ---Attorney at Law
Andrea R. --- Financial advisor/Tax preparer
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CONTACT INFORMATION
WOL Bird Haven
Mailing Address: WOL Bird Haven, Inc.
PO Box 182, Red Oak, TX 75154
Email: info@bird-haven.org
Fax: (972) 617-3936
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