Meet Amelia!
After over 30 years of abuse, Amelia the disabled Moluccan Cockatoo has finally found freedom and love. Please help us share her story and give her the life she deserves.
Amelia was stuffed into a travel carrier cage for parakeets and never allowed out- abused and teased ruthlessly by adults and children alike. They also mercilessly mutilated her wings in a brutal, amateur attempt at the antiquated practice of pinioning gone wrong (essentially amputated incorrectly at the elbow)… she will never fly again and has trouble with balance at times. Upon arrival, it was also apparent her identification band was much too small. While it may have fit a hatchling, it is now embedded into her foot and grown around and needed to be surgically removed. At the vet, we were able to remove the band and found out not only were her wings haphazardly amputated, but what is left of them is broken significantly in multiple places. Luckily they are stabilized, but they healed improperly and are unusable.
She will continue to need specialized vet care and caretaking throughout her lifetime. We are working to build her an enclosure that will fit her special needs and allow her the appropriate space to stretch, play, and rest while she recovers from the horrors of her past.
It will take YEARS of rehabilitation for Amelia to learn to trust humans again, and rightfully so. Please help us share her story and give her the life she deserves.
We would like to put together funds to cover her annual vet care costs, supplements, food, as well as the building and renovation of her custom enclosure, perches, and other essential enrichments. You can donate directly to the rescue or purchase from her very own Amazon wish list here: https://linktr.ee/RRRamelia
(Please be sure to put Amelia or a bird emoji in the comment of your donation so we can appropriately allocate the funds to her care.)
You can also follow her story on our social media here: https://linktr.ee/rainbowrescueandretreat
Amelia's Blog & Milestones
9/10/2023
11/19/2023
9/10/2023
Welcome home! On this day, Amelia was brought to our rescue. She was very nervous and scared.
Missing lots of feathers, with overgrown nails and beak, wings butchered, and untrusting of humans, we have a lot of work ahead of us.
We have all the love and kindness in the world to give sweet Amelia and can't wait to show her a life of joy, care, and fulfillment.
10/9/2023
11/19/2023
9/10/2023
My first time out of my habitat! On this day, I was so very brave and ventured out for the very first time. I was terrified to "step up" and gave the transport dowel a good chomping and climbed around my habitat trying to avoid it for awhile, but eventually warmed up and hung out on a new perch and played in my enrichment box shredding blocks, scavenging for fun new foods and checking out my new world.
11/19/2023
11/19/2023
11/19/2023
This was the first time I let my caretakers feed me with chopsticks instead of making a mad dash and lunge for their fingers, I hesitantly and then happily started accepting pellets, fruits, and veggies with the chopsticks.
I had a big fall on this day as well. My balance is not very good, so I'm a bit clumsy. Mom was a wreck- of course- worried I was going to bleed too much or injure myself further and digress all my progress.
12/23/2023
12/23/2023
11/19/2023
I have started developing my own taste in music and shows! I let my caretakers know that I love a song or show by dancing or singing and cooing along. I especially love when Mom sings to me and like to caw along bouncing and bobbing excitedly.
We were able to purchase an older aviary to renovate for my special needs. We will begin working on this project in the spring, can't wait!
1/23/2024
12/23/2023
1/23/2024
We started my very own playlist and have been continuing outside time on my perch and I can nicely accept large pieces of fruits and veggies from my caretaker without lunging or biting now too!
2/28/2024
12/23/2023
1/23/2024
Today was the big day! I went to the vet for a full examination and work up. As well as a procedure to remove the arm band embedded into my leg.
She was very brave and well behaved thanks to the hard work and love we’re putting in to rehabilitating her. We did some mild sedation to reduce the stress of being somewhere new and her fear aggression. We were able to get her band removed, found evidence of a significant old fracture to her wing (explaining why she cannot fly and her balance issues), trimmed those long, LONG talons and did some important bloodwork.
In addition to wing fracture and extra long quicks on her nails, Amelia is missing several papillae from neglect and starvation in her former abusive home. Her feather loss is very notable, but we are seeing some come back in as she molts and gets healthier each month- it may never fill out again, but she is beautiful regardless. She has some scissor beak overgrowth issues as well, but we expect to see those resolve themselves as time goes on with proper enrichment. If not, we will schedule another assessment and care plan.
Initial testing revealed we needed to add some vitamin supplements to her diet, we’re still waiting to hear back on the details of the rest of the bloodwork.
4/10/24
4/10/24
4/10/24
After months of asking her to step up on to my desk using treats, encouragement, and patience, Amelia hopped right up while I was playing some games completely unbidden and of her own volition!
She made herself right at home and helped herself to a salad and bowl of strawberries before hanging out to watch the computer screen for a half hour. I found that she really enjoys colorful movement on the screen and watching flying.
5/19/24
4/10/24
4/10/24
Some wonderful volunteers picked up Amelia's aviary and started renovating it. They sandblasted and removed the rust and repainted it. This was a huge help to our team who weren't going to be able to complete it for a few more months.
6/13/24
4/10/24
6/13/24
Her new and improved aviary was dropped off! I began reassembling it and started filling it with toys, perches, and enrichment, but it is still a work in progress. She absolutely loved climbing around it like a little spider monkey hanging upside down and chatting excitedly while I put it together. She still needs more perches and bridges if you're able to help contribute:
Meet Some of Our Residents!
Amelia
Hemlock
Amelia
This darling Moluccan Cockatoo experienced over 30 years of abuse and mutilation before coming to us
Olivia
Hemlock
Amelia
A sweet, but sassy addition to our rescue who was displaced due to breed restrictions but came in very malnourished and unsocialized
Hemlock
Hemlock
Winona Glider & Doja Splat
Dumped in the trash outside a pet store in the freezing temperatures, Hemlock has some birth defects that alter his mobility
Winona Glider & Doja Splat
Winona Glider & Doja Splat
Winona Glider & Doja Splat
These two cuties were discarded out with the trash on the road in freezing rain over Christmas
Franny
Winona Glider & Doja Splat
Franny
After 13 years she was left at a shelter due to new allergies in the family
Our Partners
Sugar Glider Rescue Highlight
At RRR, we’re committed to giving all animals—big and small—the chance to heal and thrive. Right now, we urgently need your support to care for several sugar gliders who have just arrived at our sanctuary.
These sweet, but fragile creatures were surrendered in desperate need of care and proper nutrition and supplies. Sugar gliders, especially those who have suffered neglect and improper breeding, require specialized care to help them recover and thrive in a safe environment. This is where YOU come in! 💖