gigi wrote:
To add further to my response to your question Mary Anne, I will say I have learned lots since I began volunteering at the local bird rehab and it is not all about the animals.
First, licensed rehabbers are highly regulated at both the state and federal level. Each rehabber pays fees to have the permits and they do not receive any compensation for their work unless it is approved by either the state or the fed, whomever takes jurisdiction. All money they receive is from donations which is why many rehab facilities like the Wildlife Center of Virginia have huge educational programs, fundraising and the like. That takes a great deal of sophistication and most of the small operations want their focus to be on the rehabbing and not the fundraising. The place I volunteer at is a non profit, but they have elected not to have a board of directors and all the bureaucracy that goes with it. For those operations that have the boards, fundraising, etc., the board can actually vote to oust the rehabbers from having any decision making. You trade one thing for another.
The other thing I have learned is that the government has a great deal of involvement, or as I say intrusion and many of the small operations are opting out. It just isn't worth it anymore. They do decide who and what gets treated often times especially if cost is a factor. Unfortunately the land of rehabbing is not perfect and deals with more than just the fixing and repairing of injured animals.
I will see what I can do to get this bird some help, but my hands are also tied. Besides surgery I do not know what needs to be done. If it were as easy as driving there and picking it up, I would do it, but I simply cannot. Breaks my heart, but that is the way it is.
I hope this helps.
Thanks so much, gigi...and it certainly explains a lot!! I am hoping that they choose to help LindaLu...but, I'm not counting on it. Wing fracture doesn't sound like an easy fix to me, requiring a long stay and then a period of rehab, all costly and time consuming....but, I have my fingers crossed!!!..ya just never know!!!