I took a vow many years ago when I decided to help all animals, I swore to help them, protect them, and never to breed them for profit or gain.
I promised never to venture into Mothers domain other than to help them survive.
I am so torn right now, reality is rushing in on me, helping them to survive is venturing into Mothers domain, Questions are being asked within myself, just who do I think I am to be interfering with Mother and her ways to keep all in check?
Just who am I to be venturing into the world of Rescue?
Now, seems I am also allowing my rescue's to breed and care for there babies, hand tame them, become attached to them, something I swore never to do as I strive to return all that find there way to me back unto Mothers care.
There is and always will be a generous amount of hurt and tears fallen from trying to help the little ones live, but things are getting way out of hand as I allow breeding to happen here within my Rescue Facility.
This must end.
For many years now I have asked the Lord why he has chozen me to do this task for him, I have yet to receive an answer, well today I found my answer, I have been asking this question from the wrong entity, Today I asked this question from the right person....the person staring back at me in the mirror...
Just who in the h.ll do I think I am messing with Mother and her ways?
As the sun rises unto a new day I am finding a truth hidden behind a LIE...
BrokenWing Wildlife & Exotic & Pigeon Rescue & Rehab must come to an end.

NO, Arty...You are wrong! Would any of us ignore a bird or other animal in need?...NO! You are doing what you have been put on this earth to do. Love and care for those in need. Your rescues would still breed without you...you have no control over that. You will always become attached to them weather you want to or not. Left alone, they will continue to multiply and some may not survive without your help. Oh gosh, I don't know what to say. This is all my fault.

Arty.... You are a sensitive individual with a tremendous heart. You do what you do because you were meant to do it. You have the knowledge, the compassion and the judgement to help these creatures. Mabe you are steppin a bit into mothers domain, but god created us with compassion, morals... This is our world, its up to us to upkeep it and continue the survival of its inhabitants.
Without what you do Arty, think of how many fewer people would know about the bird of peace and how many fewer of these beautiful animals would be amongst us right now. Its normal to question our purpose; things do not always go the way we wish they would... But I truly believe that everything happens for a reason, no matter how large or small it is. There is a reason we have met here, and a reason why you are feeling this now.
You have a huge heart, and even though that means you have more room in there for compassion, you also have more room in there for pain. Please Arty, take care of yourself and continue to be the friend you are to all of mother natures babies......

And Susan, nothing is your fault.... Please know that my prayers and thouhts are with you.....

Much love to all.....

Josh

Arty...God chose a certain few to do this job and you were one! There are not enough of us in this cruel and selfish world today! You were born with this compassion...it is something you cannot just stop! It is a part of you that you can never let go of....no matter how hard you try. It was just not meant to be. Things do happen for the better. I always tell people that. No matter how bad it may seem there is always a reason why behind everything.
You know, people get enjoyment out of so many different things in life.....but to rescue and save one of Gods creatures is a reward only we few people can feel. It is a part of our life and that cannot be taken away!
So Arty, look in the mirror again and who do you see now! A compassionate man who is doing his job to the fullest. Helping those who cannot help themselves...how rewarding is that? It is beyond the greatest feeling one can ever imagine ....holding a life in your hands that would otherwise not be....if it were not for you!

Arty I can appreciate your soul searching as we all must do when involving ourselves in the lives of animals on earth, sent here for their own purposes, IMO. I have the same issues although I don't do anything along the lines of such admirable help as you do.

Perhaps you can just refocus on the rescue part and rehab. I'm sure this is challenging when racers are found as they seem to be a cross between wild and captive. But I see them more as captive.

I totally agree that breeding, raising and possibly handfeeding does produce a bird that is unable to be outside free. They lack skills that are parent taught and progressive, and takes time and living "out there" I think. ~J~ hates when I say this but it's simple to just let them sit on eggs and not hatch them. (sorry ~J~) they just lose interest and move on.

Unless you feel burnt out, please reconsider stopping all together and perhaps just take time to redefine your mission. It's a good one and not something many of us can do.

Arty you are doing the right thing with the rescue. As for breeding a few babies it is not a deliberate act to make money. I believe the birds have a right to bond, whether that results in the birth of a live chick or not, is your choice. I do not see wrong in giving fake eggs, neither is there wrong in allowing the hatch. The wrong part in breeding is trying to maximize live chicks through artificial means just for money. The babies you have bred have brought joy to both your parent birds, who got the chance to live by nature, incubate and raise a baby a bit, and the person who gained a handfed baby for free.

Susan, this decission of mine has nothing what so ever to do with you.
I have been making some very very poor judgement calls lately and frankly this has added to the pain I already endure.
I can no longer do this work, as my health fails I find myselfs struggling, this alone is very hard on me.
Breeding is controled here by my wife and I, we don't allow our birds to multiply, there are enough birds in shelters throughout the USA homeless and suffering, there is no need whatsoever for us the contribute to there suffering.
For months now I have been e-mailing the owner of a site that sends many birds in need of help my way, I decided many months ago to stop Rescue, this decission was made long ago, I simply can no longer endure the costs and the pain from the rescue world.
I have been loosing sleep worried about my finacial problems, Then a little one falls silent and or disapears, all are close to me, all enter my heart in a profound way, not just Gem or Mira etc, all enter my heart....
Please go to Google, type in Pigeon Rescue, click on the first link, tell me what do you find there?
I have been trying to contact the owner of the site for months now, for reasons unknown to me, my request to remove my contact information has gone unanswered, now I struggle to find the web host to see if they can help me.
For years now I have cried, My hands have been bloodied, the few have flown free, I can't do this any longer.
ParrotChatter is where I share my world, lately that world has been nothing but pain and suffering, who am I to inflict such pain unto other members of this forum?
In my quest to help the bird of peace I have ventured into the breeding world, WHY?, I broke an oath made, a promise to the animals, never...never to breed or allow breeding while under my care.
So a few got by me as I placed in fake eggs, I found a few little ones frozen to death by my errors...MY ERRORS...
My good intentions are now my errors, my errors are now contributing to there suffering....
I am confussed right now....I am very hurt by what I have done...now one of my babies is gone.....
Can you see the frustrations....these are not my babies, these little ones belong to a pair of Pigeons out in my loft...they are not my babies.
I am full of shame right now....I am full of guilt...
I am not abandoning my forum...but I have to go away for awhile...I just need some time away...someone please help others when needed here in the Dove & Pigeon forum while I am away...I just need alittle time alone...

Arty, I can feel where you are coming from..for years back in Jersey I did rescue from a kill shelter....it became overbearing. I lost sleep...was tired..constantly on the run to rescue another. Crying...it never ended. The rewards are great but in the end it does take a toll on you. We cannot save them all and this thought remains with us forever. Sometimes you have to step away and take a break, collect your thoughts and for once just plain old relax the mind and body. I have since relocated to Florida and have not gone out of my way to do any kind of rescue....if they show up on my doorstep I help. Otherwise it is too overbearing and yes it can get costly also. I was buying food, blankets, treats anything to help. It seems the ones who can least afford to give always do! I noticed that. All the people involved in the rescue I worked with eventually took that break....most ended up with 6 or more dogs...like myself......we always took the ones no one else wanted or were classified as the least adoptable......in whose eyes? Not mine! I remember when I took (Lyla) my little white deaf pitbull out of that kill shelter..she had been abused, starved, her pups put into the garbage and she was then abandoned. Too make things worse she was born deaf! I had been told there were not too many people who would give a deaf dog a home no less a pitbull....well she is the sweetest companion you could ask for...she would not hurt a flea. All my others have similar stories. It is a sad world we live in today Arty for so many of Gods creatures. I will end this post with the decision you have made. You have so much compassion and have done so much to help Gods creatures...now it is time for Arty...to sit back and enjoy your birds and take care of yourself! You and your heath have to be number one in the end...the birds you have now need you......rest up for them. Relax!
We will all be here, I know I will...your kind words will always be looked upon here! I know I look forward to reading all your kind replies! We love you Arty!

Arty,
After reading your post this morning, I can't seem to get you off my mind. I am not really a part of this PC family since I am so new, so I'm not sure I have the right to respond to such a personal thread. But I am going to anyway.
I wanted you to know I have admired the work you do and the love you feel for your birds. I know nothing of the world of rescue but I think I somewhat understand the dilemma you have been struggling with. I wish I had words of wisdom I could give you to help you with your decision about your rescue.
I agree with Donna. You and your health have to be number one in the end.
Take care and I will keep you in my prayers,
Nancy

Hi Nancy, I am quite new myself here too....I kinda felt funny posting certain things in the very beginning also, but I came to the conclusion that this is how everyone gets to know each other in here. Everyone else was new at some point also but we all get to know one another thru our postings....bye the way...that was a very nice post you left for Arty! He is a wonderful compassionate person.....you should go back and read all the older postings. They are all very interesting. Welcome to PC and stick around...it can be a home away from home sometimes. Tons of nice people in here!
Hugs, Donna