Arty I am so sad to read of this news. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the love you gave, for all of the cries you answered, for all of the precious lives that you saved. May the memories of all you've helped and loved be with you forever. You have my most sincere respect. I truly hope you stay on the forum and offer your incredible amounts of knowledge and love. Best wishes to you always.

you've done a lot of good in the world, and continue to do so you are a wonderful person, and you've earned a rest!

Well I thank you Arty for all your help..Sour Cream is doing splendidly he/she gained 11 grams so far, flys around the house like a nut after my ARN and is eating like a horse. I'm so glad Sour cream came into my life and that you were there for me, and for all the great info you have provided me with : )

Arty, I am so thankful that I found this site. Abi brought me to you and I will never forget all the help and kind words that you have given me. You are such a wonderful kindhearted person. You are a true man of compassion! One that is hard to come by in todays cruel world where people are too busy to even notice the pigeons and birds of peace! You have saved many and have given many a second chance. One man can only do so much! I know sometimes it can become overbearing and expensive to keep up. It is time for you to step away from the rescue and take a nice break to spend time with your human family and your little feathered friends! And to just plain old relax!
The short time I have been on this forum I have learned alot about my little feathered friend Abi. Thanx to you!
I do hope you will remain here with us and enjoy the forum. There are so many other kind people here who would miss you terribly and be lost without your kind words, including me!
Get some rest my friend and do not worry. We will always be here for you too!
I will close this reply with a little update about Abi. He is doing fine. I guess he was never meant to be captured. I did try until the weather went bad with almost 10 days of rain here. His tail feathers are coming in fast and his wing seems to be ok. He is flying all over the place. I never have to worry about him ever leaving me. That canopy is officially his domain now. And boy does he protect it! I am working on trying to pet him now but he insists on chasing me away from that. I will never give up on Abi until he has 100 % trust in me and someday he lands on my shoulder! Abi remains free! The way mother nature meant for him to be!
Good luck Arty, I wish you good health and happiness. Do not stay away from this forum as I will be posting new pics and videos of my little feathered friend and will be here looking out for your kind words!
Hugs from the heart, Donna & Abi

ps: Abi sends a message to you!

ARTY! Just as I was getting to know you! You will still be my friend, I admire you greatly. Thanks for helping me out with Prissy. She's inside every night now - sleeps in the cage on my kitchen counter! Not quite what I had wanted, but she seems quite comfortable. Thanks again for everything. XOXO - Jodee

Dear, dear Arty, I just can not find the right words. You brought Gem in to my life during his short life. He gave us all such joy. I miss him so much. I have learned more from you about nature and natural habitat. I gave Gem what he wanted...food, shelter, companionship and, freedom to fly. I could harp on it the rest of my life..."Why did I let him stay outside?". Then I realize, it was what he wanted, it was natural, it was to be.
I still have all my Mourning Dove and two Ringneck. Because of you, I have such an appreciation for them. I consider them mine to look after and help them along, providing food and water during our dry season.
Arty, you have no idea of what you mean to me. You gave me Gem and happiness. Take care of yourself. I love you friend.

Mother has given us all such beauty to enjoy, they are out there, they sing for us each day, they have fur and chatter, they have feathers and whistle, each are as different as you and I, they know suffering, they know fear, there little hearts feel saddness just as ours do.
They feel pain and hide in the corner for they know not what to do, some find there way to us humans when they need help.
They risk a great deal by doing so, but they need help, oh they struggle and they might bite, but when they are all healed up, the sickness has gone and they feel better, they will turn so you can see the "thank you" within there little eyes as they run or fly free.
Maybe you will see them again oneday when they come to ask you for seed or maybe a few nuts and a cool drink of water, then they sing for you as a way to thank you for all you have done for them.
I thank you all for the kind words, all of you have touched me, shared your ups and downs, helped me when help seemed to elude me.
Please know, I am no different than any of you, for all of you would stop to help an animal in need, all of you would help an animal in anyway that you could.
I am very pleased some have said they look differently upon the Pigeon & Dove, this is what I dream of everyday, to change the way folks look upon these birds has always been a goal of mine.
Leaving the Rescue world is not something I want to do, it has to be done, there are simply no more funds to keep going.
If I had a piggy bank to smash I would but even the piggy has up and run off...LOL
The e-mails continue, the phone still rings, I will never say no to any animal that is here close to me, but as far as the other 49 states, I simply can't help, I can only offer contacts and prayers, this hurts me badly, I simply don't have options.
I will always be a animal rescuer, nothing can ever change that.
Peace everyone.
Peace
Arty/BrokenWing

I know exactly what you mean, Arty. Everybody I know in rescue is in the same predicament... we keep on stretching the rubber band a little bit more, a little bit more, trying to make ends meet, trying to make room for one more because we can't bear to see them suffer but there is only so much any one person can do.

It's real hard for us during the winter months because my husband doesn't have as much work, I had to stop working because of the animals and the expenses are even higher with the heat (we live in the Poconos) and the produce being much more expensive (during the summer I buy from small local organic growers -I live in a very rural area) but, thankfully, we have managed to pull through so far. I have also closed my doors. Like you, I still take in the ones that are near and in desperate need but I have been turning people down for some time now. And it breaks my heart to do it because I so worry that they will not end up in a good place but there is nothing I can do... no more room in the birdroom and not enough money to support more animals and I need to make sure that the ones I do have get everything they need.

One does what one can, Arty. Nobody can ask for more of a person. You've done more than your share so don't feel too bad (if you can).

A big kiss from a fellow rescuer

B

A big hug back at ya B.
I remember when my skilled trade Job was stable and I had the funds to support my passion.
I remember when Katrina hit and John from Beaks and Wings Exotic Rescue went into the New Orleans area to help Donna from 911parrotalert, I had the extra money so I sent a generous amount to help John, then he ran out of funds, so I sent him more to help ease his burden, this helped him to do what he does best....help birds.
I can only pray that things change so both you and I can return to what pleases us most....helping the little ones that can't help themselfs.
Walking with you B....always walking with you.....
Arty