Meet the birds

Here are some of the birds described in this update:

Two birds sit side-by-side atop their cage
Patrick (left) and Lurch. Below, the two enjoy sunshine in the outdoor aviary.



Above, George (top) greets Mandy and Mango.

BG's story, continued from left

Two years ago, BG suddenly became unable to use his back legs and was in a great deal of pain. X-rays and an MRI revealed that he sustained an injury to the discs of his back. Long-backed breeds like BG's are susceptible to these types of injuries.

Surgery was required to correct the problem although it was unknown if BG would ever walk again. However, he was in so much pain that there was no choice but to proceed with the surgery. BG underwent the delicate surgery on his back, and then spent several days at the hospital during a lengthy recuperation. The vets gave him only a small chance of ever walking again.

BG healed form the surgical procedure and it was a relief to see that he was no longer in pain. However, we were resigned to the fact that he would likely be paraplegic and require a cart. Although BG would have been cared for and loved at HFL whether he was able to walk or not, we were overjoyed when he regained his ability to walk again just a couple months after the surgery and with a short course of steroid treatment.

Today, BG is walks with no difficulty and is as active as any of the other dogs at HFL. He does best on level surfaces as opposed to stairs or inclines, but in every other way enjoys a full and active life at the sanctuary.

Previous Animal Updates: February 18, 2007

Pretty bird!

No visit to Home for Life® is complete without a chat with Candy. a 20 year-old male Moluccan cockatoo—Candy makes sure of it! Less well known, but no less important, are the other members of HFL's small bird flock.

room with big bird cages filled with birds 
The birds get ready for indoor flight. One of the hanging perches is visible in the upper right.

The flock lives in an airy room in large cages filled with toys, perches, and snacks. All of the birds get out of their cages for several hours daily. During cold weather, they exercise indoors in a protected room with big windows and perches hanging form the ceiling. When it's nice out, they are wheeled to their outdoor aviary where they enjoy the beautiful sunshine and fresh air.

Among the avian residents are Lurch, a blue-crowned conure, and Patrick, a Nanday conure. Lurch is 26 years old and was wild-caught. Patrick was surrendered by his owner and is Lurch's best friend.

George, an Indian ring-neck parakeet, is part of the flock though he has his own cage. Mango and Mandy, both wild-caught slender-bill conures, are a bonded pair. Poor Mandy suffered an injury to her eye when captured and is now blind on that side. She has remained on the timid side while Mango is more adventurous.

Ethel and Allison are Quaker parakeets. Ethel had a very hard life before being rescued by MAARS, a parrot rescue based in Minneapolis. She has a history of seizures. Allison is feisty and is Ethel's friend and protector.


Ethel and Allison stick together even outside their cage.

Meet BG, the Big Guy


BG with animal care specialist Katie Vold.

BG is a seven year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi who has been at Home for Life® for three years. Besides being a big handsome guy, BG is very smart. He has already earned two AKC obedience titles: Companion Dog and Companion Dog Excellent.

BG was the cherished pet of a couple that loved their dog and took wonderful care of him. However, when he was a puppy, some children (relatives of the couple), tortured BG when his owners were not around. The couple never really knew what the kids did to BG, but he suffered from their mistreatment at a young and impressionable point in his development. As a result, BG became very hostile to children and fear-aggressive.

In spite of these obstacles, BG went on to earn his two obedience titles and most of the time was a delightful companion. However, the typical unpredictability of a household with children, grandchildren, and young visitors seemed to periodically flip a switch in BG, triggering the herding instinct of his breed and the bad memories of being mistreated. One Halloween, BG confronted a trick-or-treater at the door, leaping up before his owners could restrain him and biting the child through his costume. There were other close calls and incidents as well.

BG's owners came to recognize that they could not manage their household to ensure that BG would not bite again. Reluctantly they concluded that they had to find BG a new situation, and that could not be a new home where he might encounter the same stressful factors caused his problematic behaviors. BG's vet, who was acquainted with Home for Life®, suggested the sanctuary as an alternative that might work.

Since arriving at HFL, BG has been well behaved, gentle, and reliable for our staff to work with. While he enjoys meeting new people and is always polite, Home for Life® ensures that he does so only under circumstances where he feels safe and secure.

In addition, BG has plenty of opportunities for exercise to work off some of that herding dog energy. His roommate and girlfriend, Phoebe, keeps him on his toes as well.

Our commitment to ensure the well being of dogs like BG is one reason we grant tours by appointment only and always accompanied by a staff person. People who visit the sanctuary are visiting the animals' home and while welcome, must interact with our animals under conditions that promote their sense of comfort and security.

At Home for Life®, dogs experience a predictable daily routine. Though noisy at times, the general atmosphere is serene. The sanctuary is oriented for the animals in a way that a typical home simply cannot be. Thus, special efforts to ensure the confidence and well being of dogs like BG can be made.

Dogs seem to thrive on a schedule and dogs like BG, that become distraught when their world goes awry, take particular comfort in knowing what to expect.

BG's story is continued in the right column.