Become a Mickaboo Angel!

"Give of yourself as the Angels do and wonderful things will come to you."        - Ramadan  

Update, January 1, 2009:  Thanks to increased donations in response to our calls for help, our financial status has become more sustainable. We are still in need of donations in this declining economy, and our vet bills have not decreased. However we are lifting the total ban on intake of birds while we revise our intake policies.

Mickaboo currently has approximately 300 birds in foster care.  Our first commitment is to these birds and their ongoing care.  For this reason, we need to use our regular donations to maintain a cash reserve for them.  Thanks to Mickaboo's generous supporters, the Angel program has been a huge success.  Our Angels have enabled us to take in over 100 birds since May 1, 2008.  These are birds we would not have been able to help without your generous donations.  

Why Become an Angel to a Mickaboo Bird?
 Unfortunately, many of the birds that come into Mickaboo's care have been injured, abused, neglected or are very ill.  As a result, they need medical attention, behavioral training and extra love and nurturing before we can place them in adoptive homes.  These birds are often times considered unadoptable at shelters and by society in general. We believe that every bird deserves a second chance.  We allow each and every one of our birds as much time as they need to find that special adopter who is willing to care for them.  As Mickaboo has grown, and we have taken in more birds, our monthly vet bills have increased significantly, averaging between $8,000 and $10,000 per month.
 
We understand that not everyone can foster or adopt a Mickaboo bird, but would still like to help.  Becoming an Angel to a bird in need is the perfect way to do that!   You can help us take in birds from shelters or from private surrenderers who are in a financial crisis.  Your donations to Mickaboo can be directed to care for a particular bird or birds, to help defray the cost of their sometimes astronomical vet bills while they wait for forever homes.
 

Angel Species
When you become a Mickaboo Angel, you are helping us fulfill our commitment to keeping our doors open to ill, injured, abused, neglected and unwanted companion birds in Northern California and beyond.  We invite you to become the species of Mickaboo Angel that suits you best!

• Angel:   Our goal is to have an "endowment" of at least $200 before taking in a new bird.  This will help us ensure that we always have sufficient funds to provide basic medical care for the birds already in our care, as well as for new birds we take in. As an Angel, you will receive recognition on our website, an email picture of your Angel bird, and regular email updates on his/her progress.  If a bird is adopted without using your Angel money for vet bills, we will shift the money to the next needy bird and let you know which additional bird you have helped us bring in.

• Guardian Angel:   Your donation in any amount will be used to provide ongoing medical care for a specific bird that you designate.  As a Guardian Angel, you will receive recognition on our website, an email picture of your Angel bird and regular email updates on his/her progress.  
  

• Archangel:  Archangels commit to covering the full vet costs required for a new bird to be healthy enough to adopt. As an Archangel, you will receive recognition on our website, a 5 x 7 photo of your Angel bird, and regular email updates on his/her progress.  

Please email angels@mickaboo.org and tell us what species of Angel you are, which bird you would like to support, and how you would like to be acknowledged on the website:  full name, first name only, first name and last initial.  If you do not want to specify a particular bird to support, you can also request that your donation be used for the bird most in need--we'll let you know which bird we chose.

 Every Bird Gets An Equal Chance

That's the underlying principle of Mickaboo.  Once a bird is in our care, we provide all the medical care s/he requires.  We do not "triage" birds or spend more money on large species than small.  We only euthanize a bird when s/he is suffering without the possibility of recovery.  We provide hospice care for terminally ill birds who are not suffering. Since we do not have paid employees, you can be sure that your donation goes directly to the birds.  Donations are 100% tax deductible.  A receipt will be mailed to all donors.

A special "Thank you" to PAWS for SJACS for their financial assistance with some of our birds. www.paws4sjacs.org

Birds Waiting to be Matched with an Angel

Date	Species	Name of Bird	Current Situation
03/18/10	Dove	Pierre	Pierre is a baby dove born with what is called a "splay" leg. He can only use his healthy leg to stand on which does not give him enough balance to move upright. He robs on his belly most of the time which is not a long term solution for birds like him. Pierre is undergoing a complicated, very expensive surgery to have his splayed leg corrected. He is the sweetest guy ever and deserves a bright future with his girl friend. Even though Mickacoo has their own Angel Page we are asking you all to please help Pierre with your financial support to pay for his surgery.
03/07/10	Senegal	Mango	Mango here - I'm a senior Senegal Parrot who developed a benign tumor under one wing. I will have to undergo surgery to have it removed because it keeps getting infected. My owner refused to pay for this procedure and suggested putting me down because I'm old. What a cruel concept ! I am happily enjoying life in my wonderful new foster home now but will need all the Angels I can get to help pay for my surgery and recovery. Will you be one of them, please ? Update 03/11/10 I had my first surgery today to remove the smaller of the two growth under my wings. It went fine except I lost a lot of blood and need to recover before any more procedures can be done. I'm waiting for the biopsy results to come back. Please send good thoughts along my way and keep me in mind for a donation towards my vet bill.
02/27/10	Cockatiel	Luke	Hello, I'm Luke, a very handsome cockatiel with a pretty bad wing injury. Something out there in the wild attacked me after I accidentally left my previous home. I ended up in a shelter who kept me for 5 days - they call it "Stray Hold". This was not exactly beneficial for the wound on my wing which got all infected and iffy. I have been hospitalized for a few days and am now in my foster home where I receive ongoing medical treatment. I am not in much pain but am hoping the infection has not spread to my bone so I can make a full recovery. Will you please help me out here with some financial support ?
02/22/10	Senegal	Grover	Grover was taken out of a stressful and unhealthy environment after she developed a feather plucking habit. So far with Mickaboo she has had basic blood tests and other lab work that has come back negative, yet Grover continues to pluck. Her foster dad is providing her with a safe and enriching environment and helping her get over her fears, but she will need more tests to help determine if she has any medical conditions which may be contributing to her plucking. Grover is a sweet but scared little girl who chirps like a cockatiel when she wants attention. We are optimistic that, with the right care and support, all of her gorgeous green and yellow feathers will grow back in. Please help us help Grover.
02/16/10	Cockatoo	Sammy	Hi, I'm Sammy short for Samantha. I have been with the same loving couple, who handraised me when I was 3 weeks old, for the last 13 years. They both became really ill and had to surrender me. It was difficult for everyone but I'm coping and am trying to adjust in my new foster home. I am a cute, fluffy girl who is preening a bit too excessive. Today I went to see one of Mickaboo's best avian vets to get a check up. You can see the dark spot in my face where I had a growth removed a while ago. All I'm asking for is a loving forever home and some financial support to cover my vet bill. Can you please help ?
02/15/10	Macaw	Gypsy	Gypsy is a young female who was the spotlight of the family for 3 years of her life. Recently the family had a baby and feared that Gypsy would be a threat to their new addition. They decided surrendering her would be in her best interest. Gypsy is a young bird with a special charm about her. She is now the spotlight of her current foster home. Gypsy has her first Angel: Thank you Tina Gujer
02/13/10	Cockatiel	Rowan	Rowan has been with Mickaboo for just over a year (he came to us from the Watsonville Shelter in January 2009) but he is still experiencing medical problems. He has had pneumonia and multiple respiratory infections and his nares are prone to clogging, meaning that he will probably always be a special-needs bird. While Rowan has been doing better lately, he was experiencing shortness of breath today so his foster dad took him to the vet. He probably has another infection and will need antibiotics and nebulizer treatment. Rowan has cockatiel friends that he gets strength from and a great foster home. He does need your financial support to cover his medical bills. Will you please help him out ? Rowan has his first Angel: Anonymous
02/09/10	Cockatiel	Annie Merlin Pica Apollo	Hello, I'm Annie the beautiful cinnamon white face lady in the center. I am surrounded by my friends Pica on the left, his partner Apollo far right and our mutual friend Merlin in the background. We are Mickaboo's latest Mini Flock. Our mom had to surrender us because she fell very ill and since she wanted what is best for us we now live in a great foster home with lots of attention where we can settle down and relax from the stress of moving and getting used to new surroundings. We all had to have a Vet visit to make sure we are healthy and ready to eventually move to our forever home. May we ask for a donation towards our vet bill, please ?
01/29/10	Cockatoo	Yuki	Hello there, I'm Yuki a friendly female Umbrella Cockatoo found in an empty apartment. I was brought to the Peninsula Humane Society where I had several prolapses resulting in surgery. The nice people there informed Mickaboo because I'm still not feeling better. In fact - I had another setback just now. I will need a good amount of medical attention from an experienced Avian Vet. Will you please be one of my Angels helping me overcome those rough times ? Yuki has her first Angel: Thank you Doris Muller 02/16/10 Update: Yuki is still hospitalized and we are cautiously optimistic she will get released soon. Please send lots of good thoughts towards her speedy recovery and help us out with a donation to cover her very high vet bill.
01/07/10	Cockatiel	Buzz	Buzz has been dropped off at the Vet with a broken leg and bite wounds on his toes. He got attacked by a rat in his own cage. His owner never had any intention of picking him up again. Buzz has been through a lot including surgery with partial amputation today. He has a wonderful foster home lined up but will need follow up medical care. Please consider being an Angel for this sweet little guy ! 01/31/10 Update from Buzz's Foster Mom: Buzz is doing really well; still on antibiotics, but I no longer have to gavage him and he's off the pain meds.The radiologist says the prognosis is guarded for the foot/leg that's still bandaged. The fractures have not healed yet, but we will give it more time. There is still a chance it could get amputated.
01/03/10	Cockatiel	Sweet Pea	I'm Sweet Pea, a pretty little white-faced cockatiel. I used to live with my friend Rocky who was picking on me, to the point where he plucked out many of my feathers and left me scared and bleeding. That is how I came to Mickaboo. After several weeks in foster care, my physical and emotional wounds are mostly healed. I am proving to be a calm and friendly bird. I like visiting with my foster mom and I eat most of what she serves me, which means that I am starting to eat pellets and veggies. Woud you like to help cover my medical expenses ? 02/09/10 Update from Sweet Pea's Foster Mom: SweetPea has begun to sing in a beautiful voice so he is now Presley, definitely a male. He still has  ways to go before he’s tame with people. I’m working on him, though. He’s a very handsome guy, and in spite of the fact that he’s missing a few toes gets around reasonably well.
01/03/10	Amazon	Buddy	Buddy the orange-winged Amazon is being surrendered to Mickaboo with a history of medical problems like a crippled foot, athlerosclerosis and a history of sinusitis. He will need ongoing vet care we would appreciate your Angel support for. Update 01/20/10: Buddy has his first Angel - thank you Chloe Redon. Update 02/02/10 from Buddy's new Foster Mom: He's settling in pretty well although he is not eating very much. Mainly fresh veggies and a rice/bean mixture that I cooked. He has had a few of his pellets but not very many. He seems very confident, not territorial or cage aggressive, and will usually step up for me. He wants to spend most of his time on top of his cage and seems completely uninterested in any of his toys.
11/9/09	Budgie	Charlie	Charlie was surrendered because his owner thought he had respiratory problems, but he has more than that.  He is extremely sensitive to most medications and keeps vomiting them up.  He lost weight until he was down to 23 grams.  We're hoping that careful nursing will bring him back to health.  01/17/10 Update from Charlie's Foster Mom: While Charlie continues to slowly gain weight, he has not been able to remain free of the avian gastric yeast once he stops taking the medication.  He also needs to be  kept in a warm environment (an incubator most of the time) or he starts to lose energy and begins vomiting again.  We hope that in time his immune system will become strong enough to cope with whatever is causing his recurrent illness. 01/27/10 Charlie has his first Angel ! Thank you Lisa Bobulinski "in memory of Tom" for your kind ongoing support. 03/09/10 Another Angel for Charlie ! Thank you Joan Williams-Near for your generous donation.
10/27/09	Macaw	Buddy	Buddy has been returned to Mickaboo due to medical problems.  He has been diagnosed with aspergillosis - a hard to treat fungal infection- as well as picking at his blood feathers regularly which has lead to excessive blood loss on a couple occasions. A bird with medical issues such as Buddy can use an Angel & many Guardian Angels as his vet bills have been very high! Note: Buddy has one anonymous Angel as he was listed on the Angel page previously.  Due to his most recent medical problems and high vet bills, he is in need of additional Angels and Guardian Angels! Update: 01/03/10 Buddy has a new Angel - Thank you Colleen Hindson	:

                       Click here to become an Angel to a bird from the Pleasanton Aviary Rescue  

 
Click here to become an Angel to a MickaCoo Pigeon or Dove!

Birds and Their Angels
If you don't see your Angel bird here, please be sure to check our Angel Graduates page (link below).
 

Angel(s)	Species	Bird(s) Rescued	Reason for Rescue	Picture or Link to Bird's Story
Angel: Elise Acosta	Amazon	Cappy	This very sweet Amazon has been surrendered to us because he has severe medical issues. One of them being inflamed air sacs. He will need ongoing treatments and possible x-rays. We would greatly appreciate any financial support to help this wonderful bird. 01/10/10 Update from Cappy's Foster Dad: Cappy is doing fine. His air sacs are still causing problems but he is adjusting nicely to his new environment and has discovered his passion for dried fruit.
Angels: Patricia in Memory of Calypso	African Grey	Sammy	Sammy has been seen by a vet and will need lots of medical care including x-rays. Please help us with this high medical bill.	12/29/09
Angels: Anonymous, Susan Schnur	Cockatiel	Prince	Prince was found outdoors, terrified after having been attacked by a cat, with a bite wound on his chest and missing a lot of feathers. Prince was just released from the hospital and is getting used to being in a great Mickaboo foster home. 01/03/10 Update from Prince's foster mom: After several weeks in foster care, Prince has grown most of his feathers back and is doing much better. This is from his foster mom: “Someone loved this bird at some point - he's finally starting to sing and talk here. And what he just said had the perfect intonation to be 'I love you.' He obligingly said it about 10 times in a row so I could get a really good listen.	10/12/09
Angel: For J.V. Hrovat: Happy Father's Day	Red-Lored Amazon	Bebe	Bebe is a sweet and gentle 42 year-old bird who had nowhere else to go when her previous owner didn't have the time for her. Bebe is being treated by one of Mickaboo's avian vets and her foster dad for medical problems related to being overweight.	06/07/09
Angel:  Anonymous	Amazon	Prince	Prince was at a local shelter in need of medical care.  He is missing a toe and his right wing hangs most likely due to a previous injury.  Prince needs surgery on his foot and radiographs of his wing to determine the extent of the injury. 01/17/10 Update from Prince's Foster Mom: Prince is doing great. He loves his toys especially when there are bells attached. He is not terribly interested in people and starts yelling when he is bored. He loves chewing birdie bagels or wood pieces. Sometimes he will sit on his perch practice talking. He imitates the other birds in the house and he is getting better saying "What are you doing?" and "Good Boy!". Prince is very active. He stretches and flaps his good wing. He does have problems with heights.	5/8/09
Angel:  Zora M. Surprise, AZ, & Donna Cresswell	Conure- Blue Crown	Rico	Rico came to us from a shelter and has an overgrown beak.  He will need to see an avian vet as this can signal underlying health issues. 01/22/10 Update from Rico's Foster Mom: Rico has been in for three foot x-rays and since I moved him to a tub to spend the day in this seems to have resolved those problems.  He had a broken foot at one time and the beak had become aggravated and he was in pain.There had also been fear of bone cancer but the Vet does not think that is the case.  Even with a clear bill of health he will need ongoing beak trims because every 6 weeks it is needle sharp.	3/6/09
Angel:  Janet B. Guardian Angels: Kari Terhark, Santa Clara, CA Bill Kruspe, Dorene's Dad The companions of Buddy, Wookie, and Jinge, Colleen Hindson	Macaw	Max & Rico	These boys have a very special story and their own web page:  A Special Partnership. 01/20/10 Update from Max's Foster Mom: Max had a bad flare up of his Papilloma tissue due to stress.  I brought him in thinking "oh, God, he's going to need surgery".  Fortunately, his Papilloma tissue is recovering from his episode, but the Vet was concerned about his breathing. He had to get hospitalized and is in need of more Angels to help him out financially. We are sending positive thoughts for a fast recovery.

Get updates on Angel "graduates" on the Angel Graduates page.

Please visit our In Memoriam page for Angel birds we have lost. 

 Please note!   Our birds' lives are subject to sudden changes. If a bird is removed from the Angel program, we may transfer your Angel funds to another bird in need. Becoming a bird's Angel does not imply any legal rights over the bird or its care.