Casper

I GOT A CALL A FEW NIGHTS AGO FROM A FRANTIC BIRD OWNER WHOSE GOFFINS COCKATOO,

CASPER, HAD BEEN THE VICTIM OF THE "BIG BIRD, LITTLE BIRD" ATTACK SYNDROME. THIS

ADORABLE LITTLE BIRD HAD BEEN SHARING A CAGE WITH A MOLLUCAN FOR ALMOST A YEAR,

WHEN FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT ATTACKED THE GOFFINS. MARSHA PICKED UP THE BIRD TO

TAKE IT TO THE EMERGENCY VETS OFFICE, BUT THERE WAS NO AVIAN VET ON DUTY. THE VET

ON CALL TREATED THE BIRD BY BANDAGING THE WING IN PLACE & GIVING CASPER SOME PAIN

MEDS AND ANTIBIOTICS. BY THE TIME THE BIRD GOT TO ME, A FEW DAYS LATER, THE BLOOD

SUPPLY HAD CEASED AND THE WING BASICALLY FELL OFF. MANY THANKS TO THERESA WHO

CAME OVER TO HELP EXAMINE & BANDAGE CASPER. I WILL TAKE HIM TO ONE OF THE PARROT

HAVEN VETS AS SOON AS I CAN GET AN APPOINTMENT. AT THIS POINT, IT WOULD JUST BE FOR

AN EXAM, SINCE THE WING SEEMS TO HAVE BEGUN THE HEALING PROCESS. CASPER IS

GETTING ALONG FINE AND EATING WELL. HE REALLY LOVES HIS APPLES. I HAVE BEEN GIVING

HIM ANTIBIOTICS TO PREVENT AN INFECTION. AT THIS POINT, CASPER IS NOT UP FOR

ADOPTION, WHILE HE RECUPERATES.

Update 08/11/02

CASPER HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR. HEIDI HOEFER OF WEST HILL'S ANIMAL HOSPITAL ON MONDAY AFTER BEING EXAMINED BY DR. BOB CORONA, WHO REFERRED CASPER TO HEIDI, REALIZING THAT SURGERY WAS NECESSARY. HIS BIT OF REMAINING WING HAD BECOME INFECTED SO ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE TO COMPLETELY AMPUTATE THE WING. A NEW INTERN, DR. ELISABETH FREILICHER PERFORMED THE SURGERY AS HEIDI ADMINISTERED THE ANESTHESIA. HEIDI HAS ALWAYS DONE A GREAT JOB TAKING CARE OF THE PARROT HAVEN BIRDS. CASPER SPENT THE NIGHT RECUPERATING AND CAME HOME THE NEXT DAY. HE'S EATING WELL & TAKING HIS ANTIBIOTICS. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN GIVING CASPER A HOME, SO I HAVE A HARD DECISION TO MAKE, PLACING THIS TRUSTING SOUL IN JUST THE RIGHT HOME.. MEANWHILE, HE'S GETTING PLENTY OF ATTENTION, HANGING OUT ON THE DINING ROOM TABLE, BEING THE CENTER OF ALL ACTIVITY.

Update 08/17/02

CASPER HAS FOUND A NEW HOME WITH BRIAN & TRACI, WHO ARE COMPLETELY IN LOVE WITH HIM. CASPER NOW RESIDES IN A BEAUTIFUL KING'S CAGE OVERLOOKING A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN. HIS WOUND IS HEALING BEAUTIFULLY AND HIS STITCHES WILL BE REMOVED NEXT WEEK. Update 11/04/02 - WENT TO VISIT CASPER. HE LOVES HIS NEW HOME, HAS HIS OWN ROOM THAT HE SHARES WITH A RINGNECK AND IS TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH BRIAN.