 |
ABOUT US
A parrot welfare organization provides for the complete physical, psychological and environmental well being of the parrots in the it’s care. Through the education of the public, proper legal documentation, extensive support services, and constant follow-up procedures, a parrot welfare organization insures that whether the parrots remain in a sanctuary, in rehabilitation, or are placed into adoptive or foster homes, that the parrots are continually nurtured. The parrot welfare organization also provides for the general welfare of parrots in the public domain by providing accurate, comprehensive and reliable educational materials and resources to the public.
With the proliferation of psittacine birds into the pet marketplace, the issue of unwanted birds is rapidly growing. This is no longer one person’s problem or even one industry’s problem. It speaks to the entire issue of being responsible for anyone and anything in your life for which you have chosen stewardship. All living creatures deserve respect and kindness. Societies value birds for economic, cultural, ethical and spiritual reasons. The avicultural and pet industries must heighten public consciousness that animals are not creatures put on this earth for man to dominate, or “own,” but rather they are “other nations” with which to co-exist. The disposable mentality or throwaway cultural attitude prevalent in our society does not speak well for the lives of animals often viewed as commodities that are greatly affected by this trend. They cannot fend for themselves when we do not. TGF receives inquiries daily from around the country because people must "get rid of their birds". The hundreds of inquiries received monthly regarding our programs demonstrate that there is an overwhelming need to provide continuing education and information to the public, the veterinary community and the avicultural industry about the physical, psychological, social, environmental, medical and nutritional needs necessary to provide for the total well being of these highly intelligent, long-lived creatures.
The challenge for veterinarians, breeders, retailers, hobbyists, welfare, rescue and sanctuary groups for companion animals is the realization that there are not enough facilities providing appropriate standards of care for the animals dependent upon their care. The Gabriel Foundation® is currently a part of a working committee of the Association of Avian Veterinarians whose task is to develop a standard of care for parrot welfare organizations, which include rescue and sanctuary groups. The Foundation is also an integral part of the WPWA (World Parrot Welfare Alliance), an international parrot welfare organization whose goal is to develop and promote greater awareness of the needs of parrots in captivity, whether in homes, rescue, sanctuary, or breeding facilities and in the retail pet trade through a set of guidelines and standards.
The Gabriel Foundation Aviary and Adoption Center is currently providing consistent, high quality care for 500 psittacine birds. Birds come to TGF for a variety of reasons such as family or financial hardship, human guardian’s illness or death, conflict with spouse or children, lack of human interest and/or time, moving/relocation, a bird’s incomparability with human’s expectations, a bird’s physical handicap, a bird’s chronic illness, rescue from animal cruelty, abandonment, lost bird, or request from a pet store, animal welfare organization, veterinarian and breeders to provide on-going care.
Our Medical Director evaluates the acute, chronic and long-term medical needs of all incoming and outgoing birds. Our team of attending and affiliated veterinarians, certified veterinary technicians, staff members and volunteers provides for the total health care, as well as psychological and environmental needs. Our staff to bird ratio is crucial to the rehabilitation process of our psittacine residents, where the needs of the individual bird come first. With the in-depth quality of care that TGF provides, many caring and committed adoptive families and guardians provide homes for those birds who will continue to thrive in a companion pet situation through The Gabriel Foundation’s highly structured adoption and screening process. For those birds that remain with us for the remainder of their lives, permanent sanctuary is a safe and enriched habitat dedicated to each resident’s well-being.
^BACK TO TOP |
 |
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & FOUNDER
May 2010
Recently, we’ve been questioned, even taken to task, regarding our stance on those who breed birds. The Gabriel Foundation understands that there are many ways to advocate for animal welfare. One of our primary goals is to help educate those who want to share their lives with parrots—no matter who they are.
Every person that visits our Aviary and Adoption Center or comes in to our Denver location to learn more about who we are and what we do is told that each of our birds, whether relinquished or rescued, was once somebody’s baby bird. We make it clear that buying a baby bird from a breeder does not guarantee success in the parrot/human relationship, and that many individuals—most of us involved with TGF, in fact—have established wonderful, loving, forever relationships with birds who were adults when we met them.
However, we are realists. In this country, people have options when it comes to choosing a companion animal. As long as people purchase birds from breeders, we must encourage those breeders to be responsible for the animals that they breed. This means that they should take the time and means to insure that the prospective caregiver is aware and understands the responsibility implicit in such a potentially long-lived relationship. To exclude any avicultural group from the conversation and thus exclude them from accountability is counterproductive. We ask of bird breeders what we ask of everyone--including vets and adopters and retailers and you, our supporters—and that is to be responsible. We do this not to guard the economic well-being of the breeders, but to provide for the health and well-being of the birds that are the foundation of our existence.
At The Gabriel Foundation, we see successes and failures in parrot/human relationships everyday. We offer education and resources to try to prevent the failures whenever we can. We do not turn away anyone who wants information about how to provide better lives for birds. Our advocacy of parrot welfare is inherent in who we are and what we do.
CLICK HERE TO READ TGF'S POSITION STATEMENT ON BREEDING
Most sincerely,
Julie Weiss Murad
CEO & President
^BACK TO TOP |
