Ann Arbor, MI (August 22, 2024) – Early Monday morning, staff at the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) were surprised to find 30 birds—26 parakeets and 4 cockatiels—abandoned outside the shelter’s front doors. The parakeets were all piled into a cardboard cat carrier, and the cockatiels were left in a cage—all a bench outside the Adoptions entrance. They were discovered by HSHV Clinic staff as they arrived for work August 19.
This incident is unfortunately reminiscent of a similar occurrence in April 2023, when 19 birds and one cat were left at the shelter’s entrance. Just as in that case, the birds are now being cared for by HSHV, where they are receiving medical attention, proper nutrition, and the attention they need.
“We underst
and that sometimes people feel they have no other option, but abandoning animals is never the right answer,” said Tanya Hilgendorf, CEO of HSHV.
“In addition to shelter, we have a variety of ways to provide assistance. For folks struggling, please call us. We are here to help,” said Hilgendorf. “These birds were left in a vulnerable position, but we’re grateful the community supports us in supporting them—providing the resources by volunteering, adopting and donating, to ensure we can care for them.”
This week has been a record-breaker for HSHV; several chickens, ducks and other birds have been surrendered as well, putting the total at 51 birds who’ve been surrendered or abandoned at HSHV this week. Though the sudden influx has put a strain on the shelter’s resources, the staff remains committed to providing the best care possible for these animals.
HSHV is asking the community for support, both in terms of donations and adoptions,
If anyone has information about the person or persons who left the birds, they are encouraged to contact HSHV’s Cruelty and Rescue department at (734) 662-3512. For adoptions, please contact (734) 662-5585 or adoptions@hshv.org. For donations, please visit .hshv.org/donate.
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About The Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV):
The Humane Society of Huron Valley, located in Ann Arbor, is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and relies solely on the generosity of our supporters to provide critical community programs and services. HSHV is an award-winning organization, recognized for our best practices and highest animal “save-rate” among all similar shelters in Michigan. Charity Navigator, the nation’s top charity evaluator, awarded HSHV a 4-star ranking, the highest possible. The mission of HSHV is to promote the loving, responsible care of all animals in our community. HSHV is not affiliated with any other humane organization and does not receive funding from the United Way. More information can be found on HSHV’s website (hshv.org) and on our annual report (hshv.org/annualreport).