Suzy, A short sad life
Sybil Erden, Director, The Oasis Sanctuary October 3rd, 2002

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The call came to Charlotte, at the Phoenix business office. She forwarded the message to Tom and Ruth Ann, who run the Foster Care/Intake Center from their home in Scottsdale. A little cockatiel had been found and had an injured leg. The story we were told was that she was a foundling, had flown in and probably injured her leg because she couldn't walk. The gentleman calling didn't have the funds for medical care. He said his son had found the bird in the courtyard of the apartment complex. Could the Oasis please help?

When Tom went to the gentleman's home, he found a female Cockatiel with much more serious problems than an injured leg. The small gray bird couldn't use her legs at all and was in pain. We spoke on the phone and it was instantly decided to call Dr. Todd Driggers, our mobile Avian Vet.

That night Ruth Ann hand fed the Cockatiel since she wouldn't or couldn't eat or drink on her own. She was given a towel-padded carrier with a heat lamp. Overnight she bit holes into her useless legs and feet. Ruth Ann and I talked on the phone in the early hours of the morning. We discussed euthanasia.

When Dr. Driggers arrived that morning and examined the little bird now named Suzy, we were told that:

• She had not possibly flown in anywhere; one of her wings was dislocated and totally useless. It had been that way for months, if not years, because there was no swelling. In fact there was no feeling left when Dr. Driggers handled the wing.
• She had been battered, most likely thrown into a wall or onto a floor. Her face and eye on one side were swollen. She was suffering neurological deficit, having intercranial swelling, which was why she couldn't walk or move her legs.

Dr. Driggers put her on antibiotics after giving her a steroid shot. He said that if she would begin eating on her own, recovery was possible. And he suggested millet spray as an inducement to eat.

For a day or two Suzy ate millet. And then the steroid wore off.

Suzy began to go down hill. Ruth Ann hand-fed her and cradled her suffering little body. She took Suzy to work with her and held her close. Suzy had the warmth and security of Ruth Ann's heartbeat. Suzy went from hand-feeding to gavage feeding.

Dr. Driggers was called again. Euthanasia was again discussed.

On the sixth night Suzy began having little tiny convulsions and passed away before Dr. Driggers could arrive.

In all likelihood, this sad little life had few if any happy moments. Somewhere, probably in that very same apartment complex, is an evil person; a person who damaged Suzy's wing, threw her about and ultimately killed her. This person, child or adult, will probably do this again, to another helpless being, an animal or a child, a trusting wife or elderly parent. And there is nothing we can do....

....except bury Suzy under the pecan trees. Bury her with the love and respect she never knew, until those last few days, held by Ruth Ann....