Post by Old Dragon (Al) on May 8, 2004 12:12:34 GMT 1
At the moment perhaps this project group should really be called the 'Therapy Budgies Project Group'? I say that because at present there are only budgies involved, although in the past a few cats and a dog have also been included.
Something along similar lines as this might be possible for rescue organisations to consider too.
The project itself is simple and it first came about because a local person knocked the door here and handed us a bird cage. They were aware that we had a variety of caged birds in our care and thought that, as their elderly, widowed father's budgie had just died, we might be able to use the cage.
Further enquiries revealed that 'Pops' had adored his little pet, its company and was feeling lost and lonely without it but, being well into his seventies and living alone, was reluctant to have another due to his age.
At the time we had quite a few young budgies available for homing so we asked Pops if he'd be able to 'foster' one for us and for however long he felt able? He jumped at the chance, so back went his old cage but with a new occupant and the Therapy Pets Project was born.
Although Pops was very reluctant to accept bird seed etc. from one of the project's helpers, we explained that it was a requirement of the project. A means to keep in touch on a weekly basis and to make sure that he was happy with caring for the little bird. Happy he certainly was, and soon had Billy (as he called the budgie) finger tame and even talking.
Word spread and other lonely people joined the project to benefit from the company of fostering a therapy pet. Each pet/person partnership has one or two 'sponsors' from within the project group's membership. These are the people that visit on a weekly basis and who can be contacted in an emergency or will care for the pet concerned should the fosterer need help, be on holiday etc.
In the case of the cats and dog that were placed with older fosterers, those were elderly animals whose original owners had passed away and their relatives were going to have them pts, so we were glad to be able to help all concerned at the time. Those animals have since passed on themselves from old age, hence we now have only budgies involved.
With the therapy budgies we find it best to place young, fit and healthy birds as these are easier for them to tame, teach to talk and are generally far more active and entertaining. Their sponsors also tend to spend time with the fosterer chatting, sharing a cup of tea and a few biscuits, and even doing a bit of shopping or the odd task that might be beyond an older person. Even something as simple as changing a light bulb can be a big help.
Once again, this is a win:win project all around. An animal finds a home and the people involved all benefit.
On the occasions when a fosterer has no longer been able to care for the budgie or has passed away, then either someone in their family has asked if they can adopt it, the sponsor has adopted it, it has been fostered out to another lonely person or found its way to me to foster along with all the other various birds here. Some of these we are able to rehome and generally have a few young budgies that could be made available should another such project be set up in a different area.
Most of the cages that we use are those belonging to fosterers who have lost an orginal pet; ones donated to us or else purchaed fairly cheaply at car boot sales and local country fairs.
This project group works closely with the Animal Support Project and also Pets in Recovery Project. (More about that particular TRPD Group another time.)
Alison
Something along similar lines as this might be possible for rescue organisations to consider too.
The project itself is simple and it first came about because a local person knocked the door here and handed us a bird cage. They were aware that we had a variety of caged birds in our care and thought that, as their elderly, widowed father's budgie had just died, we might be able to use the cage.
Further enquiries revealed that 'Pops' had adored his little pet, its company and was feeling lost and lonely without it but, being well into his seventies and living alone, was reluctant to have another due to his age.
At the time we had quite a few young budgies available for homing so we asked Pops if he'd be able to 'foster' one for us and for however long he felt able? He jumped at the chance, so back went his old cage but with a new occupant and the Therapy Pets Project was born.
Although Pops was very reluctant to accept bird seed etc. from one of the project's helpers, we explained that it was a requirement of the project. A means to keep in touch on a weekly basis and to make sure that he was happy with caring for the little bird. Happy he certainly was, and soon had Billy (as he called the budgie) finger tame and even talking.
Word spread and other lonely people joined the project to benefit from the company of fostering a therapy pet. Each pet/person partnership has one or two 'sponsors' from within the project group's membership. These are the people that visit on a weekly basis and who can be contacted in an emergency or will care for the pet concerned should the fosterer need help, be on holiday etc.
In the case of the cats and dog that were placed with older fosterers, those were elderly animals whose original owners had passed away and their relatives were going to have them pts, so we were glad to be able to help all concerned at the time. Those animals have since passed on themselves from old age, hence we now have only budgies involved.
With the therapy budgies we find it best to place young, fit and healthy birds as these are easier for them to tame, teach to talk and are generally far more active and entertaining. Their sponsors also tend to spend time with the fosterer chatting, sharing a cup of tea and a few biscuits, and even doing a bit of shopping or the odd task that might be beyond an older person. Even something as simple as changing a light bulb can be a big help.
Once again, this is a win:win project all around. An animal finds a home and the people involved all benefit.
On the occasions when a fosterer has no longer been able to care for the budgie or has passed away, then either someone in their family has asked if they can adopt it, the sponsor has adopted it, it has been fostered out to another lonely person or found its way to me to foster along with all the other various birds here. Some of these we are able to rehome and generally have a few young budgies that could be made available should another such project be set up in a different area.
Most of the cages that we use are those belonging to fosterers who have lost an orginal pet; ones donated to us or else purchaed fairly cheaply at car boot sales and local country fairs.
This project group works closely with the Animal Support Project and also Pets in Recovery Project. (More about that particular TRPD Group another time.)
Alison