by Danielle Milley
Calling the abandonment of two cockatiels left in a plastic bag in a Scarborough parking lot "terribly cruel", Pat Phillips has taken them into her home to nurse them back to health.
The Scarborough woman has a passion for parrots and is known in the community for her extensive bird knowledge and big heart. So when the birds were found in the parking lot of the plaza on Bennett Road at Lawrence Avenue on Saturday, the woman at the pet food store knew whom to call. Phillips said an elderly couple pulled into a parking spot on Saturday to do some shopping. When the woman noticed the bag, she went to retrieve it and when she picked it up there was movement. There is a pet food store in the plaza so the couple took the birds there hoping that someone could help.
With 15 birds and two cats, Phillips is a frequent customer at the store so they knew to call her. She couldn't say no to two birds in need so the couple dropped the birds off at her home. "When you have two cockatiels that are found in a plastic bag in a parking lot how do you say no?" Phillips said. "Where are they going to go?"
She didn't know what to expect. "When I saw what condition they were in I got very angry", Phillips said. The little grey female, named Gracie, has a leg band indicating she is 12 years old while the age of the yellow male, named Max, is unknown. both Max and Gracie are missing the flight feathers on their left wings and the primary feathers are missing from the tips of Gracie's wings.
"The vet said the female will lose at least part of her wing", Phillips said, adding she also doesn't have any tail feathers. "The male is in better shape", she said. Gracie is on antibiotics to help with the swelling on the tips of her wings. Both are fearful and quiet. "They've withdrawn to the back of their cage and that's where they stay", Phillips said. "They're starting to relax some when there is no one in the room".
Phillips and her husband Lorne got their first bird after they retired about 15 years ago. Parrots quickly became her passion. "They're beautiful. They're intelligent. They make wonderful companions, but they should not be part of the pet trade", she said. Most people can't handle the mess and the noise of parrots, but Phillips has a way with them.
A member of the Budgerigar and Foreign Bird Society, Phillips is often called upon to answer bird questions in the neighbourhood. "I didn't set out to have 15 birds. Most of these birds found their way to me in similar circumstances", she said.
She plans to nurse Gracie and Max back to health and then hopefully find them a loving home.
Published in the Toronto Star
July 3, 2008
Postscript: Max and Gracie were found abandoned in a plastic bag in an East Toronto parking lot on June 28. They were brought to Pat and Lorne Phillips by the couple who found them. Pat and Lorne nursed these sick and injured cockatiels back to health.
Max and Gracie have had their last vet visits. Both have new feathers growing in on their left wings and in Gracie's case, her tail. They are much more relaxed than they were but still not very active. Both are now eating pellets and fresh foods and gaining weight. Gracie didn't have to lose any of her wing after all, but she required further treatment as she became egg bound. Both birds are extremely hand shy but with the right family they should be able to build a trusting relationship.
Now that Gracie has finished her antibiotics both birds are ready for adoption. Pat and Lorne had the difficult task of selecting the best possible home from 20 applicants, but they are happy to announce that Max and Gracie will go to their forever home tomorrow.
Thank you to all the generous donors who kindly helped with the veterinary bills for Max and Gracie. Their plight reminded us that there are some terribly cruel people in the world, but you have proven that thoughtful and caring people will always overcome. Donations totaled $394.25.
September 2008
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