A Gift of Love

Clive, a sad, terribly abused and feather-plucked female wild caught Patagonian conure was dropped off at a vet's office to be put to death over 10 years ago. Why? The owners thought that she was so ugly that no one would want her.

They were wrong and the vet sent her to us. Clive joined a small flock of Patagonians for a couple of years. Then, she was adopted out to a family that had rescued Leaf, another female Patagonian, with a similar history.

Six years later, a death in the family necessitated that Clive and Leaf return to us. Leaf passed away this fall from severe cardiac disease. We were worried about Clive's health because her history had caught up with her. Arthritis, gout and advancing age made her an unlikely candidate for a new home.

When one of our fabulous volunteers told us that he wanted to adopt a special needs bird, Clive immediately came to mind. When he heard Clive's story it was clear that this was the bird he wanted to help. After holding Clive, gently wrapped in a towel, and seeing her contentment, the deal was sealed. Clive gets a second chance in a loving home for the remainder of her life.

Despite the torture that Clive suffered at the hands of humans, somehow she has not lost all trust in them. When gently wrapped in a towel, she somehow is able to forget her fear of human hands and genuinely enjoys being cuddled and caressed. At 21 years old, this sweet little bird has given humans a second chance..

A Gift of Remembrance

To honor of the lives of the birds and friends of TGF that have passed away this year, your end of year end gift provide a lasting memory in their honor. These lives remain in our hearts and thoughts. The lories that remain with us have been thriving in their species' room, flights and specialized diets.

On January 8, 2008, we will be present at the sentencing hearing of their previous owner who was charged with 2 counts of animal cruelty. We ache for the terrible injustices that all wild caught birds experienced before importation ceased in 1992.

From their cruel capture in the wild, to the crating and shipping to overseas quarantine stations, to surviving the horrors of quarantine before the WBCA (Wild Bird Conservation Act) ended importation, only to be auctioned off and dispersed into breeding or retail situations and a life in captivity, many of these birds are now senior psittacines.

For the many wild caught parrots that have become part of TGF's flock, these birds have been given a chance to thrive through your kindness and support.

The Gift of Laughter

Norman is a special mascot for The Gabriel Foundation. Wild caught, close to forty years old, blind in one eye and extremely limited vision in the other - Norman brings joy to everyone who makes his acquaintance. He has been with us for more than a decade after abandonment at a Colorado veterinary clinic.

Norman endured a severe sinus pseudomonas bacterial infection traveled the optic nerve and caused the resulting blindness. He is the recipient of multiple surgeries in attempts to improve his condition. With a lengthy history of poor husbandry, his immune system was weakened, and he was diagnosed with the 6th genotype of the avian papilloma virus by Dr. Darrel Styles at Texas A&M.

Norman came to us with a repertoire of barn animal sounds. His porcine "Oink, oink" brings giggles from everyone. When asked, he quacks like a duck, clucks like a chicken and barks like a dog. He even uses my voice when we take him to school events. When Norman begins his cat imitations, adults and children are astonished at the variety and depth of his meows. We invariable are asked why he learned to sound like a cat. Our answer is always the same, "He had a cat scan!"

As an organization devoted entirely to the welfare of parrots, The Gabriel Foundation is a truly unique resource for parrots living in captivity and struggling to survive in the wild. We are all counting on you!

Help Us Grow

To be successful for future decades, TGF must distinguish itself. We believe that our mission and purpose stands above the rest. At this time of year, The Gabriel Foundation thanks you for your continued efforts to change the world - one parrot at a time.

You can make that important year-end donation to The Gabriel Foundation now. For whatever reason you choose to make your gift, your holidays will be richer for it.

Thank you for your steadfast support.

With warmest wishes,
Julie Weiss Murad
CEO, President and Founder