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Issue 4: June 2005

YOU Helped MAARS Help These Birds…

MAARS regularly receives calls to assist birds in crisis situations, and we are often their only hope. Similar stories abound and yet, we are still only able to provide for a small number of these innocent, wild creatures who do not belong in cages at all…

Not long ago, a couple devoted to their Goffin's Cockatoo, Zoie, drove from Chicago to place Zoie with MAARS. Both of them suffer from debilitating medical conditions and they wanted to ensure Zoie's future before it was too late. Zoie is thriving at The Landing. She loves the attention, and feathers have started to appear on her bare skin.

This past winter, two Cockatiels who were severely plucked had been left out with the trash — cage and all. A good Samaritan brought them to a local humane society and MAARS was called in to help.

A few months ago, a Hahn's Macaw was abandoned in an empty house that was up for sale. The realtor contacted MAARS and made a personal donation to assist with the bird's care.

Just last week, a fifteen-year-old Cockatiel was surrendered to a local humane society with a dangerously swollen foot and a feather-picking condition. The bird was transferred to MAARS and immediately seen by the MAARS vet, Dr. Vicki Schulz. The diagnosis was an inoperable, untreatable, fatal tumor. The bird was not in pain, so Dr. Schulz placed him into hospice care with a client who has another special-needs Cockatiel.

You have read our newsletters and been aware of our work, so you know about MAARS' values, aspirations, and activities, and your support has helped sustain MAARS through its early stages…

…Now YOU Can Help MAARS Grow!

Six years ago the founders of MAARS had the vision of creating an organization that would address and participate in all aspects of parrot welfare, from sheltering and placement to lifetime care, education, and advocacy. Since then, we have cared for more than 1,200 captive birds and become the busiest avian welfare organization in the country. We have developed working relationships within the local and national humane communities and have earned the respect of animal care professionals, from veterinarians to animal control officers, nationwide.

Across the country, more birds are being surrendered to traditional humane society or animal control shelters than ever before and euthanasia is common. MAARS has been successful in educating the staff at some of these facilities so that they are better able to meet the needs of birds, but we often accept birds transferred from such facilities because they are not equipped to handle large parrots or avian medical or behavioral conditions.

This spring, requests to place birds with MAARS have averaged two or three a day. Unfortunately, limited space, staff, and funds dictate that we only accept emergency intakes at this time, and the waiting list for non-emergency intakes is indefinite. As the population of parrot guardians has aged, we have seen a marked increase in the surrender of larger parrots and those placed with MAARS due to critical health conditions in their caretakers.

MAARS has reached a crucial point in its growth; we have done all we can do with limited funds and resources. Unless we can raise the money needed for a fully staffed new facility, we will be forced to turn away an ever-growing number of birds. We must count on our supporters and donors for as much help they can give. We envision a time when we can provide shelter, medical care, behavior modification, and sanctuary for more birds at a facility that allows birds freedom without bars, compatible social groups, an indoor flight area, and the opportunity to be outdoors in fair weather. This is an ambitious goal but one that is essential to fulfilling the MAARS mission.

We hope that you will invest in this vision and secure a brighter future for the birds whose lives depend on it. Your contributions to MAARS are vital for the realization of this vision — now more than ever — so please, give generously and become a MAARS Supporting Flock Member today!

You Can Help Birds Like…

Rio & Buckley Mosey on Down to Texas

It was clear to everyone who knew them that Rio and Buckley had chosen to be "birds' birds" and rejected close relationships with humans; their wishes were accepted and respected without question. MAARS soon concluded that it would be in their best interest to live in an outdoor flock environment at a lifetime care/sanctuary facility. [More…]

Join the MAARS Flock Today…and Be the Wind Beneath Their Wings!

The MAARS Annual Membership Program gives you and our other loyal MAARS Supporting Flock Members the opportunity to help MAARS on an ongoing, sustaining basis. Your annual financial contribution will allow us to continue to provide and expand our valuable rescue, intake, care, veterinary and behavioral evaluation and treatment, adoption, sanctuary, outreach, and educational services for the displaced captive birds who we meet and the people whose lives they touch.

With so little, you can do so much to change the lives of birds like Rio & Buckley. On average, it takes $1.00 per day to care for each MAARS bird. Every small donation makes a big difference, and big donations help even more. Your participation in the MAARS Annual Membership Program will help save and improve the lives of hundreds of parrots and other displaced captive birds.

Join MAARS today! Give them shelter! Ease their pain! Stop the cycle! And know that you made one corner of the world a better place for another living creature!

Mail Your Membership Donation

Mail a check or money order made out to "MAARS" to: MAARS, 1360 University Ave W #347, St. Paul, MN 55104.

Join Securely Online

MAARS accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, checks, money orders, and PayPal through our online MAARStore.

Click here for more information on the MAARS Annual Membership Program!

Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services, Inc., is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Federal ID# 41-1944074) and is registered with the Office of the Secretary of State and the Office of the Attorney General of Minnesota as a charitable organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

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