Hana’s story starts quite simply in terms of pigeons. Her soul purpose in life was simply to be used for breeding to likely contribute to racing or hunting. She was discovered by a rescue here in Alabama along with her former mate at a local auction where she captured the attention of the rescue due to her having a singular limb. The original owner/breeder stated she “Got her leg hung up in some wire where it promptly became infected, mangled, and the limb died. The owner then stated they decided to cut it off at home because “it was starting to smell, but she can still fly and move around and hops”. The breeder explained to the rescue that should the rescue not take her she was simply going to be sold to the locals as squab or religious practice. The rescue intervened and acquired her immediately and purely by accident, her mate was left in the cage. The rescue quickly left before the former owner noticed.
Upon bringing her and several other birds to the rescue, Hana(Solis as the time of rescue) was given a health evaluation and let to decompress and relax as best as possible. It was quickly discovered that Hana and her mate despised each other and could not coexist and the two were rehomed separately. Toby was simply too ornery and a bully and Hana too forgiving and gentle. Given Hanas disability, she had many inquiries who wanted to adopt the crippled animal. Many of the adopters seeking fame, fortune, and clout at her expense. The rescue weeded through all of them and found an adopter who seemed genuine and kind, wanting nothing but the best for Hana. She was adopted out to a woman. The very next day, I would adopt out Hanas former mate Toby(Lune at the rescue).
I communicated with the rescue daily with Tobys progress with us and our family, pictures of him being showered in treats, love, and affection, and communicated questions and concerns with them regularly. He was a solo pigeon living with us and the ornery, mean bully quickly turned into a goofy showboater.
Sadly, the same could not be said for Hana. In the almost month we had owned Toby, Hana had been undergoing even more inhumane treatment from her new adopter. The adopter had gotten Hana for thr sake of clout and popularity, not realizing the true work that goes into ownership of an avian, let alone a crippled avian. She communicated with the rescue with threats to hold her hostage despite the return policy and contract set by the rescue. The adopter wanted her money back for all she’d spent on Hana. For weeks the rescue negotiated to get Hana back until the newest adopter finally returned her. Hanas state was dreadful. Her white and chestnut feathers all stained with feces and green if not missing entirely. Her tail was worn to thr skin. Her missing limb significantly swollen. Her entire being was dire condition. The adopter claimed they allowed free flight and she lived in a bathroom, but her body condition showed otherwise. Her personality had changed along with her physical being. She was now angry, mean, and defensive. Naturally. Wings both broken. Limb swollen. Even slight eye issues.
The rescue immediately reached out to me as they were at full capacity with rescues and asked if we’d be able to foster her even for a week as they made room. Without question we bypassed that and adopted out instead. It was immediately apparent that what ever the previous adopter had done, was nothing short of neglect as well. For the first few weeks we simply let Hana sit and exist. We let her see us as we were. She was extremely ill as well and while she was quarantined, we observed the physical problems in whole. She could not walk. Could not fly. Could not stand. Her voice barely audible. Her amputated limb radiated heat and was swollen.
As time has gone on this past year, Hanas health returned. She slowly gained the ability to stand and eventually hop and eventually could fly short spurt though it was difficult and cumbersome. With her ability to finally stand, came the pain of balancing in a single limb and the pain felt from using one leg for all movements. The amputated limb finally healed fully where it was extremely skin tight and touch bothered her due to the now very visible mutilation caused by the owner. We had been searching for any means to help her mobility, reaching out to prosthetics companies that were willing to help for several thousand dollars but the prosthetic would not address the physical issue. We reached out to universities who simply didnt care to help based on the insignificant animal at hand. Think Pigeon vs Eagle.
I had been following Bevs BIRD BOUTIQUE for several months waiting to purchase diapers until the time was right. Sure enough, Bev had a bird sling and I immediately knew that was EXACTLY what Hana needed. Now that Hana has her sling, it is an IMMEDIATE personality change in her. She is comfortable and relaxed and able to rest her body and leg without continuously trying not to fall. She can peep around and view the world as she likes without falling and stumbling and smashing her broken wings on the ground to do so. Her leg is not overstrained from use. She is no longer fighting herself for existence. Truly she is a loved bird and the sling has absolutely helped her to exist as she would like to, not as shes forced to.
Yay for mobility support!
