Ruth Ann La Rue    Born in Wichita Kansas, a child of the 50's. Educated at Roman Catholic schools and then at Wichita State University. A Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology was followed by a Master's equivalent in Blood Banking. Specialist work at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita KS and then at Blood Systems Incorporated's Reference Laboratory in Scottsdale AZ. Moving away from the medical field, Ruth Ann worked as office manager for Psychologists and then an Ophthalmologist before taking a position as Financial Secretary for St James Episcopal Church in Tempe, Arizona in 1994.

Tom La Rue    Born in Parsons Kansas, a child of the 40's and 50's. Tom's family moved to Wichita Kansas in the 50's, where he went to school. He is a Veteran of the Vietnam era, but spent his service time in Germany He became a security specialist after the service and then became a Private Investigator. Always remaining in the security and investigations fields, Tom branched into Executive Protection and Surveillance/Counterintelligence when the La Rues moved to the Phoenix metropolitan area in 1981. He now works in the security field again and spends his free time designing perches play stands and artwork to help the birds of the Oasis.

Tom and Ruth Ann met in 1968 and married in 1969. They have a son, Mark, who shares their love of animals and often lends a hand when a temporary home or assistance in care is needed. Tom and Ruth Ann have lived in the same home in a mature part of Scottsdale Arizona since moving to the Valley in 1981.

Always sharing life with a companion animal, Tom and Ruth Ann took in an orphaned Cockatiel in 1996, after taking in an orphaned French Lop-eared Rabbit 1993. When the rabbit died of old age and the Cockatiel met the same fate, the search for a larger parrot began. When parrot #1, Lindy (Charles Lindbird La Rue) arrived home in 1998, the La Rues could not escape the fact that the baby was going to outlive them and the search began for involvement in work to further education of prospective parrot owners.

Fate led the La Rues to the Oasis Sanctuary, then located just 4 miles from the La Rue home in October 1998. Work began as a 4 hour morning once a week and then progressed until Ruth Ann was filling in for medical assistance and feeding when Sybil and T.J. had to be out of town. When the Sanctuary moved in September 2000 to southern Arizona, the La Rues offered to be the Phoenix Foster Care and Intake center for the Oasis, still on a volunteer basis.

The La Rue's home has become "Chez La Rue," a place for freeloading parrots passing through on the way to the Oasis or a long-term home for a select few of special needs parrots. Parrots are housed primarily in the La Rue's dining room and living room, with one bedroom dedicated to supplies and storage and the two other bedrooms available for overflow of birds. There is an outdoor aviary on the patio and the La Rues recently erected a Tuff Shed workshop that can double as a strict isolation quarters for ill or recently rescued parrots.

Tom has a gift for working with wood and metal, so he has been able to make toys and play stands as well as repairing cages. His inventiveness never stops. Ruth Ann has a good knowledge of medical terms, procedures and such things, so she makes a good nurse for ailing or handicapped parrots. She can do about anything a veterinary assistant can do.

Ruth Ann has a unique workplace that encourages bringing parrots to work. She is able to bring sick parrots for care or needy parrots who need extra companionship. Tom works third shift so he is able to be at home with the birds when Ruth Ann is working. This gives the couple the opportunity to keep an eye on those parrots needing the special attention that only a home can offer.

Tom and Ruth Ann have been involved in several memorable rescues of parrots in desperate situations. Tom was called once by the Phoenix Arizona Drug Enforcement team to removed a parrot from a crack house that was busted. Once Tom had to go to an apartment complex with weapon strapped on his hip to take possession of an Amazon Parrot that was being held in a bad situation. Several other times Tom and Ruth Ann have bluffed their way into homes to extract parrots to save the birds' lives. Ruth Ann has written a few articles about the birds who have touched their lives. Some of those stories are posted on The Oasis Sanctuary website.

How did we (Tom and Ruth Ann) find ourselves involved with our first bird? O.K. set aside all of the myths and urban legends you have learned to love about us. Here is the truth, as I remember it. In 1997 near our wedding anniversary (must have been number 27 or 32) I was advised by my bride that as of next year's anniversary she wanted to be told "I love you" every day. Search as I may I didn't find anyone for the "I love you" job. So I bought her a parrot. And now she is told "I love you" every day!

When the decision was made to look into the possibility of purchasing a parrot we did like the rest of you and spent time researching the Internet. My wife chose to volunteer at a parrot sanctuary which was close by. Four hours every Saturday. At this lady's house four hours doesn't exist so I was always on hold for her. I was not going in because I had never volunteered for anything in my life. By the time Ruth Ann was spending her seventh hour each week I had started roaming the grounds weekly talking to the birds. I really had spent some time with two Amazons, Billy and Bunkers when one day when I was finished talking with them and walked away one of them said "I like you". Yep, that was pretty much it for me. 8 or 9 years later and both Ruth Ann and me are volunteering full time. And Sybil still has no idea about the measurement of time.

Over the years the La Rues have remained steadfast in their pledge to give life care to only their two chosen parrots, Lindy and Micki. As mentioned above, Lindy is the Blue-Fronted Amazon male they brought home in the summer of 1998. Micki is a Meyer's Parrot female who has a lower mandible malformation. She came home to the La Rues in 1999. All the other parrots at Chez La Rue are foster parrots for the Oasis Sanctuary.

In addition to the birds, Tom and Ruth Ann have an elderly Welsh Corgi mix dog, Daisy, and a young Chihuahua mix dog, Susie.

Daisy is a rescue from the Oasis. In 1999, T. J. found Daisy tethered to a pole at a Sam's Club on the hottest day of August. She was covered with ticks and fleas and suffering from dehydration. T. J., in his loving way, took Daisy to the Oasis vet to have her treated. She was about 8 years old at that time. Tom and Ruth Ann took over for T. J. after he did all the hard work.

Susie was an hour from euthanasia at the local animal care facility. She, too, was covered with ticks, had kennel cough and pneumonia when the Ruth Ann took her in. She developed complications from sterilization because she had recently had pups. Now, Susie is an energetic and curious little dog who idolizes her big sister, Daisy. Tom and Ruth Ann are certain that it has been Susie's encouragement and love that has made it possible for Daisy to be such a healthy and active elderly dog.

Tom and Ruth Ann have a companion fish, Jasper and a companion aquatic snail, Taxi. Okay, there are those who would argue about whether a fish or a snail can be a companion, but come visit Jasper and Taxi and you will see!