01/01/2022
Start off the new year by helping animals with special needs. You can sponsor a disabled animal and help them live the life they deserve.
I am Mariah Rea, founder and owner of Lofty Hopes Pigeon Rescue. I recently lost my place to live as well as my animal rescue. We are happy to share that all of our rescued animals were rehabbed and released and/or they went safely to sanctuary. The exception to this would be my disabled birds. Their needs are too high for a sanctuary with so many animals to care for.
When I knew I would be losing my home, I sold everything and used the money to build my minivan to live in. The day I drove off in it, it was rear ended and totalled. I limped the van back to Lofty Hopes rehab/ release site in Pahrump, where I've been staying and building a school bus to live and travel in. I plan to stay on BLM land for free, with my disabled birds and my service dog.
Let me introduce you to each one of my feathered and fur family in the order they came into my life and became part of my nomadic family.
First is Porter. He's my rescued french mastiff dog. He has been with me since before I built the minivan and lost my home. He was dumped during the beginning of covid and Lofty Hopes took him in. My service dog had recently passed away. He and I bonded and he became my service dog. When he came to us he was actual of everything, he had no manners, and couldn't walk on a leash. He was the only pet on this list who traveled with me in the minivan. I had a disabled pigeon I had just taken in, but she has since passed away.
Next is Liberty the disabled Pekin duck. She has a wheelchair and loves to swim in her pop up tub, although she's not a great swimmer yet. She wears diapers at night or when we are driving to a new location. She came to me from the rescue I had sent my rehabbed (and now walking) disabled duck to. One night at the rescue, a duck went lame, was having seizures, and was really struggling to breathe. The rescue thought it was my duck because she had these problems before and because it was dark. I raced out there to pick her up so I could spend her last days with her. To everyone's surprise, it wasn't my duck. This was after the minivan wreck, while living in Pahrump and building my skoolie. The rescue couldn't care for her, and having her made me realize how much I missed rehabbing a duck, so I took her and began to base my skoolie build around her needs. During the day she swims and walk in her wheelchair for physical therapy and then joins the other birds in their pop up mesh play tent.
After that is Hank. He's a blind pigeon who was found at the rehab/release site in Pahrump, with blood pouring out of his eye sockets. No one knows what happened to him. For almost a year he was kept indoors and refused to eat. He had to be hand fed, but was terrified of being handled. Even the disabled indoor birds there picked on him. When I came to Pahrump, I spent time with him trying to rehab him. He now eats on his own, but cannot be around other pigeons because they gang up on him. He has a small cage built into my skoolie for travel and during the days he has a large mesh tent he plays in. Sometimes, the rooster and the duck play in there with him and they all get along. Other days he likes being alone, and that's ok. I have 3 outside mesh play areas in case anyone needs to be separated.
Finally, there's Lindy. He's a bantam lavender Cochin rooster. But he's not your average rooster at all. He was living at a rescue when he was attacked and almost killed by a gang of 5 young turkeys who were terrorizing everyone. Since his attack a few months ago he has refused to or been unable to eat on his own. The rescue didn't have time to hand feed, as they are overwhelmed with animals, so I took him in. I hand feed him kaytee exact high fat hand feeding formula with fruit and veggie baby food twice a day. I'm working with him on learning to scratch and peck again. Since coming on the bus with me he's gained weight and started grooming himself. He wears diapers at night and sitting travel to a new location. He sleeps in bed with me. I'm the mornings I have to wake him up to go outside. He doesn't crow or really make much noise at all. He's the only rooster I know who sleeps in. During the day he goes out in the play tent with the others.
Here's a list of what sponsorship will provide:
food - including all flock feed, dry worms and a live worm farm, kaytee exact hand feeding formula, party fowl treats, calcium, fruit and veggie baby food for the rooster who doesn't eat on his own, fresh fruit and veggies for the duck
Medications - such as pet CBD, teramyacin eye ointment, bag balm for a moisturizer, rooster booster vitamins, Brewers yeast for bumblefoot, vet wrap, medical tape, iodine, and veterinarian visits.
bird diapers and p*e pads, baby blankets for daily care
physical therapy items - such as bird booties
Every day items - such as dust bath and diatomaceous earth for the rooster
Misc - a bike trailer for the animals to ride in, a life vest for the duck, a halter for the duck, a halter and leash for the rooster.
If you are able, please consider sponsoring an animal who was considered hopeless. They are loving their best lives because of your help. Thank you for reading and following our incredible journey to a better life.
Official Post from Lofty Hopes
