Poultry hoarder busted in NM, FURTHER UPDATE see #10

[Squeaky]

Hi everyone,

I think this qualifies as an emergency, at least for the birds, so here goes.

A couple days ago 464 animals were seized in a raid on an animal hoarder in southern NM near Las Cruces. This wasn't just a dog and cat situation though: horses, turtles, and birds were involved too. The final count is at the bottom of this post.

Several of the birds seized were poultry who will need to be rescued. Many of the birds are apparently "ailing" (which is media-speak for dying) and in any case ALL must be quarantined.

I've been in touch with Joe Jacquez from the animal control division and he said the birds and other animals are being evaluated for illness, so the ones that can be released won't be released for another week. Sometime next week he may have some numbers for us. The exact roo/hen count is not known and neither is the age or breed of the birds.

At the moment we don't know how many of the birds are healthy enough to make it, or how many will be in condition to be adopted, or what their disease exposure will be. If birds make it through the medical screening, we WILL need the following:

- New Mexico and area volunteers to take in whatever birds make it through the screening, and this will include quarantine responsibilities. I can drive birds as far north as Albuquerque.
- A quarantine expert (Jean? Miss Prissy? Anyone?) to answer questions
- Someone who knows about bird diseases to talk about symptoms and remedies especially during the quarantine stage

Thanks,

Squeaky

.... and the shocking tally as reported to the newspapers is:

Birds
---------
260 pigeons
74 parakeets
12 doves
3 lovebirds
2 finches
1 parrot
40 chickens
12 ducks
2 geese
1 turkey
1 peacock

Other animals
--------------------
18 goats
18 rabbits
11 dogs
3 sheep
3 horses
2 cats
1 turtle.

 

[Emzyyy]

Do you think the animal control would send them other places besides New Mexico for adoption? Like have them get better in a Foster home and sent to who ever wanted them?

 

[Squeaky]

Quote:
I can't speak for the Dona Ana County Animal Control division. However animal control departments aren't known for their huge budgets or massive animal housing facilities. They're overloaded and need help. Regardless of what their normal procedures are, if humane transportation is possible and the recipient paid all vaccination and transportation costs, they might be willing to consider shipping an animal.

We can ask. Don't ask, don't get.

Let's come up with a list of questions next time I talk to the animal control people. So far we have:

- Count and species of available animals to be adopted
- Male/female numbers, breed and age information if available
- Vaccination and disease status as of last exam
- What other needs for donated supplies/items exist
- Willing/able to ship animals out of state to new homes if recipient pays the freight?

 

[Squeaky]

Quote:
Oops, one other thing...

Regardless of who fosters the birds to allow them to "get better", they still need to be quarantined for at least a month by the final owner. The birds have been exposed to Baphomet only knows what, and those who recover may be carriers for the rest of their lives. There's a chance they may have to be housed separate from other birds forever.

The upshot is that anyone who signs up for birds had better have quarantine facilities. Anyone who thinks they can get away with no quarantine needs to talk to Gumpsgirl.

 

[Jessika]

Do you have a link to the news story on this?

 

[dlhunicorn]

my best advice is to have the state vet (contact thru county extension office) come out and look them over... much better than any guessing from us who cant even see them ...he can do a basic pullorum screening and advise on any that may have mareks etc.

 

[Squeaky]

Quote:
Absolutely. Here's a link to the heinous details.

http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/apzoo09-12-08.htm

You can also use the Albuquerque Journal search utility and type in "hoarding".

The site may require you to view a short ad in order to enter.

 

[WriterofWords]

The bad thing here is that the Dona Ana Animal Control will put them down rather than relocate them. I've dealt with them on these hoarding issues before and they don't want to take the time or money to save them. They give them a "diagnosis" of whatever disease they can come up with and they kill them on the spot.
I know this will upset a few people and I'm sorry but I live in this County and I know what those people are, the Animal Control office that is, and most of them shouldn't be in the business.

 

[Squeaky]

UPDATE
--------------------

Ok, I talked to the Dona Ana animal control authorities and here's an update. They're up to their ears in drama because a second hoarding case hit a few days ago and it's looking like a dog fighting case.

The standard operating procedure is to have the animal owner "release" animals voluntarily, at which point they can be adopted out. Not all birds have been released, so although many of them are being housed at County expense, the county doesn't have the legal right to just give them away. Another warrant is supposedly in the pipeline. In the meantime:

- The finches and lovebirds are being kept by the owner.
- The peacock has been released and was adopted by a local family who has peafowl.
- The ducks and geese appear to have been released and were adopted by locals.
- The pigeon situation has been "resolved" (not sure exactly how but our help isn't needed).
- The parrot appears to be quite sick.

- No word on the chickens or doves yet. So I have a call in to Avian Rescue.

- The parakeets got out. The owner released them and they are being temporarily housed by Avian Rescue (also known as Cockatiel Rescue). They need adoptive homes, however they are said to be in good health.

So far, it looks as though at least 90 birds have been rehomed. (Note to WriterOfWords: this does not include any of the doves or pigeons so I'm digging a bit to find out what happened to them and why).

I have a call in to Avian Rescue to confirm this, and to find out what happened to the chickens, doves, turkey, and pigeons. I will keep you updated.

Anyone else who's interested in helping the birds: the local point of contact is www.cockatielrescue.org

Avian Rescue would also accept donated cages, perches, feed, bird toys, etc.

Unfortunately shipping the birds out of state is not an option.

 

[Squeaky]

Hi everyone,

Bad news first: every chicken was killed.

I've talked to some of the wonderful people who run the Avian Rescue (a non-profit organization also known as Cockatiel Rescue). They swooped in and picked up as many birds as they could, and are adopting them out as they are available.

The ducks, geese, turkey, and peacock are confirmed as having been picked up by the County and re-homed with locals.

The chickens were killed before Avian Rescue arrived. We don't know who did it. The County isn't talking about it, as it is part of the case. The original news article did say that some of the animals were being used for food by the hoarders. That would be consistent with slaughter of meaties.

The pigeons however are available anytime. They are being housed in Albuquerque. Their original owner has released them and has no further rights.

The parakeets have been moved to Pinon but are safe in the custody of Avian Rescue. Some are being taken to the vet again because they aren't doing well. They have not been released by the owner yet.

To adopt a pigeon, or a parakeet when one becomes available, simply contact Avian Rescue at [email protected] or www. cockatielrescue.org

The procedure for adopting birds goes like this. First you E-mail, then you go down in person for an interview (Avian Rescue is in Albuquerque), then you are allowed to meet the birds. The birds choose the person as much as the person chooses the birds. There is a fee involved, which varies from one bird to the next and includes the medical expenses for that bird.

Avian Rescue also has plenty of other different kinds of rescue birds from similar seizures in San Miguel and Dona Ana counties.