Exotic Bird Rescue of Oregon: Disaster Response and Recovery Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

The Exotic Bird Rescue of Oregon (EBR) is deeply grateful to the Petfinder Foundation for your support during the intense fire season we experienced this year. We used the full amount of your grant to conduct medical exams for three of the parrots we took in as a result of their families being evacuated from the wildfires.

Isabella, a 21-year-old green-wing macaw, was treated with medications for an infection. Butch (sixth photo), a 41-year-old African grey, had a basic health check and was converted to a better diet. Triton, a 17-year-old sulfur-crested cockatoo who is a severe plucker, was prescribed medication, anti-plucking collars, and a Kevlar anti-plucking vest. All three of these birds are still with EBR while their families recover from the devastation of the wildfires we experienced.

This grant ensured that EBR was able to immediately serve and care for parrots and their families after fire evacuation. Because the grant was able to support the medical costs of these birds post-fire, EBR was able to use other funds raised from individuals to assist with food and toys for these birds. Moreover, because of the support from the Petfinder Foundation and these individual donors during the fires, EBR was able to keep sheltering current foster parrots in their homes and coordinating temporary housing for several current foster parrots who needed to evacuate from the fires or heavy smoke.

How many pets did this grant help?

7

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Triton (first photo), Isabella (second photo), and Zach (with Isabella in the third photo and another foster bird in the fourth photo) are parrots who all belong to a family that evacuated during the severe wildfires we had this fall. They were brought to EBR to be cared for while the family sheltered to wait out the fires. Upon returning to their home, they discovered that the home had burned. (The fifth photo shows the fire aftermath, with the surviving metal cages surrounded by burned rubble.)

The family is relieved and glad that their birds are safe with us until they can rebuild their home and create a safe space for them again. As much as EBR loves these birds too, we can’t wait for them to finally be reunited with their family!