Donna was not in the rescue business. This was kind of thrust upon her. All the birds that were evacuated to the Lamar-Dixon convention center and Louisiana State University were later taken to her house, and she now has almost 300 birds.
My husband and I did what we could after Katrina. We donated to the Red Cross and the Humane Society. But I kept thinking about the birds. It kept me awake at night, wondering how I could help them.
This is going to be an ongoing need. The goal is to keep these birds healthy until they can be reunited with their owners.
Birds are extremely high-maintenance animals. Their cages must be cleaned daily, and they need fresh fruits and vegetables. They're also physically and emotionally fragile. They are flock animals and need socialization.
