1360 University Ave W #347 · St. Paul, MN 55104
Phone: (651) 275-0568 · Fax: (651) 275-0457
E-mail: birds@maars2.org
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1360 University Ave W #347 · St. Paul, MN 55104 Phone: (651) 275-0568 · Fax: (651) 275-0457 E-mail: birds@maars2.org |
| Captive Bird Rescue, Adoption, Sanctuary & Care Education | MAARSianChronicles |
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Home > News & Events > MAARSianChronicles > Issue 10: December 2004 > Message from the Executive Director: Happy Holidays from MAARS! Message from the Executive Director
Happy Holidays from MAARS! Dear Friends: By this time of year many of you have received a multitude of appeals to your holiday spirit and good cheer, from family and friends' invitations to office parties, Secret Santas, cookie exchanges, school pageants, driedels and foil-wrapped chocolates, fake snow, real snow, repetitive renditions of "The Little Drummer Boy," dried corn and gourds, community events and church recitals, anything red or green, visits to Santa Claus at the local mall, tree-trimming, house decorating, colored lights and candle-lighting and endless shopping, store sales, and TV commercials, to the many worthy charities asking that you give generously this season. You feel pulled in many directions and wonder if you'll make it to New Year's Day without being Scroogeish or Grinch-like, exhausted, broke, and more than a few pounds heavier! We understand. As a small organization with limited financial, space, and staff resources, MAARS has faced challenges, choices, and acceptance: we cannot save every bird — no matter how many birds we help, there will always be more who need our care, love, and respect, the fate of those whom we cannot help is dubious, and while so many are confined to cages, their wild cousins go extinct. These facts haunt me each and every day, yet I also know that unless we can affect significant change in social attitudes towards birds and other animals, shelters, and sanctuaries like The Landing can never be more than a band-aid on a deep wound. So, we have had to choose the ways in which MAARS is best able to fulfill its larger mission. While continuing to provide the very best care and environment for as many displaced birds as we can, we have reaffirmed our commitment to education and advocacy. In the past year MAARS has focused its Intake Program on keeping birds in good homes while the Placement Program has emphasized preparing potential adopters for the lifelong commitment of living with a companion who was born to be wild. In addition, MAARS continues to partner with local shelters, schools, and vet and vet tech students to provide them with instruction in the care and handling of captive exotic birds. Through its affiliations with The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS), the Avian Welfare Coalition (AWC) and other humane organizations, MAARS has continued to advance a progressive philosophy of avian welfare on the national level. And we are starting to see fundamental changes in the public perception like the growing recognition of National Bird Day and campaigns such as MoreBeautifulWild.org and the Indonesian Parrot Petition. We put our eggs in the right basket! Your continued support of MAARS is a wise investment in the MAARS flock and addressing the issues facing parrots in captivity and the wild. Whatever gift you are able to give will be rewarded by the knowledge that you have made a world of difference in the life of a bird like Wacko or Joe and countless other lives that your gift will touch — now and in the future. Happy holidays from all of us at MAARS!
Eileen McCarthy Executive Director, MAARS Help by volunteering…
Help by donating…
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