DeKalb County is seeking volunteers to help care for more than 300 birds recovered from a recent hoarding situation.
The birds, along with eight dogs, were found during a raid of a DeKalb doctor's home July 13. At least 20 additional birds were dead inside the home.
The animal shelter doesn’t have the space to house 300 birds, so they are being taken care of at an off-site location.
Fosters and adopters for the birds are not needed – county law mandates that animals involved in hoarding or abuse cases must remain in county custody until litigation is complete.
Help is needed in the form of volunteers and donations, according to Karen Hirsch, the public relations director for LifeLine Animal Project, which manages the DeKalb County Animal Services.
“We feed the birds up to 152 cups of food per day plus a weight booster formula,” Hirsch said. “We wash 600 bowls every day – and sometimes twice a day – which can be a full time job in itself.”
To help tend to the special needs of these birds, LifeLine has contracted an expert involved with the rescue and rehabilitation of birds for more than 18 years.
“When the birds came in, they were all scared of people because of what they had been through,” Hirsch recalled. “Now they are coming out of their shell, putting their heads down for scratches, and becoming communicative.”
Hirsch said many of the birds even talk to the expert and tell her “good night” when she leaves.
DeKalb Animal Services is taking to social media to ask for volunteers and donations.
“We do need volunteers who have had some experience working with birds (any kind) and are able to work during the day for four to eight hours at a time,” Hirsch said.
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Kerry Horton at kmoyershorton@dekalbanimalservices.com.
Items needed include a refrigerator, a dishwasher, cockatiel food and lorikeet pellets.
Donations can be dropped off at DeKalb County Animal Services at 845 Camp Road. These items are also included on DeKalb Animal Services' Amazon wish list.
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