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The Tropics Newsletter
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Established in 1989, then becoming THE NATION'S FIRST NON-PROFIT PARROT SANCTUARY IN 1994, we are celebrating our 24th ANNIVERSARY! Thank you for all of your support over these years.
Critical need for donations now, please consider giving to help these birds.
New Artwork For Sale - click here to view!
The Tropics is Dedicated to Bird Welfare:
Serving as a refuge for long term care of orphaned, neglected, injured, handicapped, abused and unwanted breeder and pet birds. In addition, the rescue of raptors and the rehabilitation of songbirds and migratory birds. Read more about our mission here.
THE TROPICS EXOTIC BIRD REFUGE
P.O. Box 686
Kannapolis, NC 28081
A 501(c) 3 Non-Profit Organization
EIN# 56-1869732
WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN ANY ANIMAL RESCUE
First, please accept my sincere apologies for not keeping in touch with you. Money has been a great issue, but if you've read our website, you'd know that I suffered for 1 ½ years with a brain tumor and its removal. I am back up to speed now and would like to catch you up on things. Second, the birds are fine, but the large birds are being cared for by our partner as due to my recent health issues and our age (we've been doing this for over 23 years) we have had to offload the hands on work and delegate it to her. Until now I have been unable to keep in touch with you as I should have and tried to update the website, but not very often. It still needs extensive revision and I am getting to it as I can. Now on to the rest of this message.
Advisors in the field of bird care have told me that people do not care about what us humans go through in order to operate an animal sanctuary day after day. We know that everyone wants to know about the animals, but what about the people who work 14 hr days, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I speak for all rescuers, not just us when I say that we work sick, well, hurt, depressed, didn't sleep well the night before, have to get up at dawn start the feeding, then the cleaning, then the never ending fundraising. It never stops, especially if you don't have enough or adequate volunteerism. Rescuers have to be prepared to work whether their help shows up or not, even when their time has been promised and sworn that they will be there. It's like running a business; if you're the business owner and your employee(s) doesn't show up, who is the one who takes that employee's place……you!
The animals don't know if you are well, tired, discouraged or not, whether you have enough donations for them, etc. All they know is that it is you who supplies all their needs. Many times we are tempted to just throw some seed and nuts at the birds and forego to a later time of day or the next day, the food they really need; the veggies and fruits. Guilt is a big emotion we fight with when it comes to that. Of course, there will always be times when you have no choice but to do just that, give them a junk food meal, get over it, and make the next meal, the right one.
The animals also expect to get their attention; hugs, kisses, exercise, play time, new toys, and time out. With over 400 birds this makes it an almost impossible task. We no longer have that many in permanent residence, but when we did, we knew the names of every bird and what their likes and dislikes were regarding food, touch, and their emotional feelings at any given time. Us bird people tend to think that it's easier with dogs and cats; that everyone knows how to care for them. If so, then why are the Dog Whisperer and the woman who rescues the misunderstood pit bull dogs such popular TV shows?
All animals are born with a wild instinct whether we want to admit it or not for instance, dogs, when they get loose, they sometimes find other loose dogs and then form a pack, and after all they are related to wolves who roam in packs. Then our so-called pet dogs begin to operate on their naturally inbred instincts to hunt, kill and eat their kill.
It works the same with cats. Today we have “designer” cats that never go outside of the home. If/when they should happen to get out they immediately hunker down in a hunting stance to attack anything that moves. So, our pet cats are not that far from feral cats that run wild, hunt in dumpsters and trash cans to exist or kill birds, squirrels and other animals that roam.
When deciding on a pet, please take into consideration the responsibility of it all. Be sure you can afford the animal including food, toys, and especially vet care. Don't treat your animal like a human, that's not to say you can't pet and love them, but allow them to realize that they are not like you. If these considerations are taken in to account it will cut down on the load us rescues take on.
When it comes to parrots, NO parrot is a pet. They are wild animals with deep seated wild instincts. We wonder why they bite and we try to psychoanalyze them, give them meds to control their unwanted behaviors and finally give up when they turn away, or worst yet bite us, especially when it's a dangerous bite. I personally faced the amputation of my left arm at the elbow from just a pin prick of a nip in my finger. The infection turned out to be MRSA. At the last moment, the CDC in Atlanta told my doctors to hang a cocktail of antibiotics and IT WORKED! There are many other injuries, some involving surgeries that have happened to me, especially when I was changing dressings on birds that MUTILATED THEIR FLESH because of their distress of the physical pain caused by being in captivity rather than being able to FLY FREE “LIKE A BIRD”. Please don't misunderstand. I am NOT chastising pet bird owners as a whole, but there are some who are just not qualified to own a bird.
Those of you who have supported us in the past, we urge you to support us again, as we are operating on AIR! We desperately need your help. If there is any way you can donate, either a one time or a small monthly amount it would be MORE THAN APPRECIATED. We are DESPERATE, to say the least. Thanking you in advance…..
Founder/President
Mary Bradford (and John)
THE TROPICS EXOTIC BIRD REFUGE
www.parrotrefuge.com, tropics2345@yahoo.com
Rain Forest Dome
Our Rain Forest Dome was completed in October, 2004, after what seemed like an eternity, and approximately 25 birds are flying free.
If you would like to see our progress on the Dome, simply Click Here and we'll show you a few pictures of the construction of this country's first ever RAIN FOREST.
Helpful Links
Donated jewelry now on sale. If interested, please contact us at tropics2345@yahoo.com for descriptions and pricing of these articles.
The Tropics has provided an easier method for you to make donations that eliminates ALL fees incurred by The Tropics via the old method. Simply click on the link below at justgive.org, follow the prompts, complete the set up and make your donations. You may continue to use debit/credit card donations as before. In addition this IS a secured site whereby to give. This will enable The Tropics to no longer have to pay high fees to our original shopping cart, bank and merchant fees, etc.
Don't forget to do your online shopping below at igive.org. For every person who simply signs up using us as your "cause" we get $5.00, then a percentage of your total shopping cart (given by the merchants you shopped with) to us.
Thanking you in advance for your gifts. THE TROPICS' BIRDS!
Make a donation to The Tropics through JustGive.org -
for safe, easier giving!
Shop online at any of the 600+ stores in the Mall at iGive.com. You'll see all your favorites, including Lands' End, Barnes & Noble, Dell, Expedia, and JCPenney! And The Tropics may receive a check for up to 26% of each purchase you make!
Click the logo and type in the keyword "Tropics", then select us from the list to begin shopping.
Help us raise money by adding the new iGive Toolbar 2.0! If you add by July 31st and The Tropics Exotic Bird Refuge could win one of five $250 Amazon.com Gift Cards!
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