Emerald Ark

This bird is one of our birds here at Emerald Ark.

He is a male Budgie, named Altin (which is Turkish for Golden). He was hatched with splayed legs. This means that instead of his legs developing underneath him so that he could stand properly, because of an inexperienced breeder, the legs did not have enough nest material in the nesting box for his feet to be able to get traction as he grew. This made it impossible for him to learn how to stand properly. This caused his right femur (thigh bone) to become twisted. The result of this is that his right knee is backwards.

Let me explain the mechanics of this for all of you bird lovers who do not personally have and care for parrots. If you hold your elbows at your waist with you hands out in front of you, this is the normal and natural position that a bird’s leg should have. The knee normally is held as you are holding your elbows. However, because Altin’s right femur became twisted the knee in his right leg is held backwards. If you raise the elbow of your right arm up this attempts to mimic the injury in his right leg and knee.

One local avian vet suggested doing surgery to correct the condition. However, because Altin is a Budgie (a small species of parrot) I was told that a surgery of this type would be very difficult (because of his small size) and this would also make it a very expensive surgery. Another local exotic vet wanted to amputate his little leg —NEVER!

However, after talking with our holistic avian vet (who lives in Europe) and our avian chiropractor (who drives into Reno, Nevada from California) our holistic avian vet believes that we will be able to help Altin gain a more natural use of his leg.

We had x-rays done early in 2023 and our local avian vet explained that the femur (thigh bone) in that right leg is twisted. We sent copies of these x-rays to both our avian vet (in Europe) and our avian chiropractor.

Last week, on November 19th, I had an hour and 15 minute long distance phone consultation with our avian vet in Europe. And while talking with her she explained that using a combination of a homeopathic remedy, daily physical therapy and chiropractic care she believes that Altin can regain a more normal and natural use of his right leg.

YEAH!!!!

I am asking for $300 to help us pay for the lengthy and extremely valuable phone consultation with our avian holistic vet and to help cover the cost of Altin’s chiropractic treatment. The consultation with our holistic avian vet also includes a specifically chosen homeopathic remedy for him and a recipe for a healing ointment that I will make and massage into his leg and knee every day while doing the physical therapy exercises with him.

Because Altin primarily stands on his good and healthy left leg he often tires of this one-legged stance and ends up resting either on the bottom of the enclosure or in one of the food dishes. It is our intention to work with Altin as needed to help restore the strength in the muscles and ligaments of his right leg as the chiropractic care helps stabilize both the knee and hip-femur socket. The outcome that we are hoping to gain is for him to be able to perch using both legs and feet as a bird with two healthy and normal legs would do.

Your generous donation will not only help us help this gentle Budgie Altin, but it will also show others that there is a healthier, less invasive, treatment available for other birds hatched with a similar condition.

Thank you for your love, caring & support.

Hello Animal Lover,

Imagine a world where feline kidney disease is no longer a death sentence for our beloved cats. Picture wild bird populations thriving, free from the threat of feral cats. At Emerald Ark, we're turning these visions into reality.

My name is Leslie Moran, and I'm the Executive Director of Emerald Ark, a pioneering animal welfare nonprofit in Reno, Nevada. We’re not your typical rescue—our approach is rooted in holistic care and nutrition. We provide our animals with human-grade, balanced homemade foods and supplements, because we believe that better nutrition leads to healthier, happier animals.

Our Mission Statement:

Driven by love, compassion, and a vision for a thriving world, we rescue, heal, and re-home animals while providing sanctuary. We also protect endangered wild birds, nurture a sustainable organic farm, and champion holistic nutrition and heartfelt care at our core.

Why We Stand Out: Emerald Ark is unique among animal welfare organizations because of our commitment to holistic nutrition and scientific research. We’re not just rescuing animals; we’re collecting vital data to advance animal care standards worldwide. But to keep our programs running and expand our impact, we need your help.

We’re Raising Funds To:

Our Current Programs:

The Healthy Bird Project:

Started in 1997, this project was born from Leslie’s realization that the common advice to feed parrots a "wide variety of foods" was leading to malnutrition. Our program focuses on providing balanced nutrition and conducting necropsies through our pathology lab at U.C. Davis, enhancing our understanding of avian health. Your donation supports the health and wellbeing of parrot species worldwide.

FFURRR (Feral Feline Ultimate Rescue, Rehab & Re-home) Project:

Our FFURRR program is dedicated to transforming the lives of feral cats and protecting wildlife. Our mission is threefold:

1. Rescue and Socialize: We bring feral cats indoors, teaching them the joys of being house cats—enjoying the warmth of sunlit windows, soft beds, and the love of human companionship. It’s heartwarming to see how quickly these cats adapt to being pampered.


2. Nutritional Rehabilitation: After a thorough vet check, these cats are introduced to our high-quality, homemade cat food made from human-grade ingredients that is the foundation of our Healthy Cat Project. This improved nutrition helps them adjust to their new indoor lives, building trust and health as they learn to enjoy gentle head scratches and the comforts of a home. Plus we begin collecting data that is integral to the success of the Healthy Cat Project.


3. Wildlife Protection: By bringing feral cats indoors, we reduce their impact on wild bird populations, including endangered species in northern Nevada. This aligns with global wildlife conservation efforts, such as those from the Cornell Ornithology Lab and BirdLife International, which emphasize the importance of protecting wild birds for the health of our planet’s ecosystems.


Your donation helps us continue this vital work, transforming the lives of feral cats and safeguarding wildlife.

The Healthy Cat Project:

Feline kidney disease is the second most common cause of death in our beloved cats, and we're determined to change that. The Healthy Cat Project was born from a passion for saving our beloved cats from this tragic disease. Here at Emerald Ark we’re using a groundbreaking approach. Using an abundance of published nutritional research, we’ve formulated a cat food made from human-grade, whole, real foods specially designed to prevent kidney disease. This food is currently in trials, and we are committed to finding the best nutritional solutions to protect our feline companions' health. Our approach is grounded in science, and is combined with a wealth of revolutionary data from leading experts in feline nutrition. This helps ensure that every bite supports your cat’s long-term health.

How to Get Our Food

For cat lovers in northern Nevada, including the Reno/Sparks and surrounding rural areas, you can purchase this life-saving food directly from Emerald Ark. Not in Nevada? No problem! You can still support our mission and provide your cat with the best by ordering from us—just cover the cost of shipping the frozen food to your location. Forget dry cat food and poorly formulated canned specialty foods that are missing essential ingredients. You can also support the Healthy Cat Project by donating here.

Decades of Expertise

Leslie Moran, our founder, has been dedicated to feeding her cats the healthiest homemade diets for decades. While many believe that raw homemade cat food is the gold standard, Leslie’s research revealed a crucial truth: raw cat food will not prevent feline kidney disease. Our meticulously formulated food is crafted to provide complete, balanced nutrition that supports optimal feline health and helps safeguard against kidney issues.

How You Can Help:

We need your support to keep these projects going and to expand our reach. Your donation will directly impact the lives of countless animals, both domestic and wild. With your help, we can continue to make a difference.

Donate Today to Save Lives!

By contributing to Emerald Ark, you’re not just supporting an animal rescue—you’re joining a movement dedicated to improving animal welfare through nutrition, research, and compassion. Together, we can create a brighter future for animals everywhere.

Thank you for your generosity and for being a part of this journey. Let’s make the world a safer, healthier place for the animals we love.

Donate Now