At Freckle’s Fellowship Pigeon Rescue & Sanctuary, we take in lost and abandoned pigeons that others have left behind, taking a keen focus on the disabled and special-needs. We are one of Australia’s largest safe havens for pigeons, this year alone, rescuing over 115 pigeons who without Freckle’s, would have faced euthananisa.

Recently we took in these three musketeers who were apart of a mass dumping case, left in the front of someone’s home. These pigeons have been kept in captivity, and from the state of their feathers and feet, have likely spent their lives in cramped cages, bred, used, and then discarded on the streets when they got unwell.

For domestic pigeons, this is a death sentence.

Normally.

Thanks to a combined effort by Pigeon Rescue Support Inc, an independent rescuer, and ourselves, we were able to contain them before they got into harm’s way. I took in the worst of the three, a geriatric pair, now named Danger and Duster, and another pigeon, Lila, who cannot walk adequately. They were all emaciated, forced to stand in their own faeces to the point it had plastered onto their feet and wings, taking an hour’s worth of debriding to free them. The feathers on one of their wings so damaged and frayed from it, they had to be cut unfortunately.

I was really hoping this was a case where after receiving fluid therapy, nutrition, and warmth would perk them up, but from the get go it was evident they’re quite sick with something also. We started treatment for a suspected salmonella infection asap, and took an aspirate from their swollen joints, which contained pus and thus also posing the risk of septic arthritis.

Sadly, antibiotics haven’t helped much, and whilst they are much perkier, more extensive diagnostics need to be performed to determine whether something else is going on also. This is an estimated $1000 on top of what we have already provided them, and due to several other complex cases going on at the moment, the cost is beyond what I can cover at the moment.

For their whole lives basically, Danger, Duster, Lila and their other friends in care have never known what human compassion feels like, or that their lives matter.

We can’t undo their past, but we CAN rewrite their future!

This Wednesday the 5th, we are going to run all suggested diagnostics and hopefully figure out a way forward.

Your support will help us to cover the diagnostic screening for Danger Duster and Lila, daily medication and care, as well as support other organisations / carers involved.

I thank you for reading this, and every donation and share will show that love can still find these sweet souls, even now.