For the third installment of our blog special, we switch bird species to meet a delightful duckling. Enjoy our five-part series spotlighting the special-needs birds of Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary. Our organization thrives on providing lifelong care for disabled poultry.

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Few can measure up to the heartfelt innocence of Memphis the White Crested Duckling.
Earlier this summer, an employee of the Alameda County Fair contacted Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary to find a home for Memphis. According to the employee, Memphis never had the ability to walk while on display at the fair.

When Memphis arrived at the sanctuary, her inability to move was acute. She could not even reach food or water on her own.  A visit to the Medical Center for Birds in Oakley, Calif. revealed Memphis was suffering from a thiamine deficiency.

As we provide rehabilitation care, Memphis is always by our side. In fact, she is often carried around the sanctuary in a “duckling sling” that we created from donated linens (as shown in the photo above). In addition, she enjoys swimming in a small pool with humans by her side. Her diet is supplemented with a rich vitamin and mineral mixture to maintain her health.

Through intensive supportive care for Memphis, we are hopeful she can gain independent mobility in the future. It’s our promise to provide  quality care for someone needs it so much.

Meet rescued rabbits from Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary and House Rabbit Society this weekend.

This Saturday 8/21 from 11am-4pm, and every third Saturday of the month, at George (1824 Fourth Street), in Berkeley’s 4th Street Shopping District.

These sweet rabbits need loving homes! Once you see their sweet faces, you will love them already. Bring your bunny in for a free nail trim or to go on a bunny date with a spayed/neutered rabbit! Even if you’re not interested in adopting at this time, feel free to come visit, pet the bunnies, and learn more about rabbits!

Check out Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary’s adoptable rabbits. House Rabbit Society’s adoptable rabbits will also be attending the event. For more information, please email fosterbun@gmail.com.

The second installment of our blog special takes flight with the story of Dallas the Gamecock. Enjoy our five-part series spotlighting the special-needs birds of Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary. Our organization thrives on providing lifelong care for disabled poultry.

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Chickens can express over thirty unique vocalizations. Nobody knows that better than Dallas the Gamecock. He is Harvest Home’s resident chatterbox.

Dallas is the first adult game bird to live at the sanctuary. Arriving in Stockton in late May, his past is largely a mystery. A compassionate passerby found Dallas hopping on one leg along a rural roadside in Galt, Calif. Thereafter, he was surrendered at Arbor Pet Clinic in Lodi. The vet clinic ran a battery of tests on Dallas. Although his left was not functional, Dallas received a clean bill of health.

We were thankful when Arbor Pet Clinic contacted our sanctuary to find a permanent home for this handsome rooster.

Like pit bulls, gamecocks, who are typically bred for fighting, are characterized as the quintessential “aggressive animal”. Once Dallas arrived at Harvest Home, he dismantled this negative stereotype. He revealed himself as a gregarious, gentle individual.

Today, he is proud to oversee the welfare of three feathered ladies–Doris, Vanessa and Veronica. Dallas still does not have use of his left leg. He simply follows Doris’ lead.

Our disabled birds seem to have an unspoken motto: “If ever in doubt, hop along in life.”

On Saturday, August 14th, 2010, Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary hosted a Summer Work Party in Stockton, Calif. We assembled our new Harvest Home Hay boxes and created new Barndog Beds for future sales to support our rescue work. Volunteers interacted with the animal residents of the sanctuary. As a special thanks to work party volunteers, we served up veggie dogs and watermelon. Learn how you can volunteer by visiting our website. Check out a slideshow from the work party.

Enjoy our five-part series spotlighting the special-needs birds of Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary. Our organization thrives on providing lifelong care for disabled poultry. You will have the opportunity this week to meet five wonderful individuals in our “Feathers of Hope” blog special. We kick off our storytelling with Doris the Australorp Chicken.

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When we introduce Doris to sanctuary visitors, we reveal her ability to hop. Thereafter, a common conversation begins:

Sanctuary Visitor: “Oh, I just love bunnies.”

Sanctuary Representative: “Well, actually, she’s a chicken who hops around on one leg.”

Sanctuary Visitor: “A hopping chicken?”

Sanctuary Tour Guide: “You betcha. She’s the queen. Although she isn’t a rabbit, she lives with the rabbits at the sanctuary.”

Sanctuary Visitor: “Wow, she’s an undercover bunny. I see. Why does she hop?”

Sanctuary Tour Guide: “Doris is a survivor. She was scooped up by Oakland Animal Services several years ago after she was attacked by a raccoon. The raccoon broke her leg during the attack. Her wounded leg did not heal properly. So, she relies on her unharmed leg to move around.”

Sanctuary Visitor: “Amazing. She sounds like a true fighter.”

Sanctuary Tour Guide: “You speak the truth.”

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The arrival of Doris marked the beginning of an era at Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary. Doris shattered the image of a bird with a “bad leg”. Shortly after her arrival in May 2008, she befriended Kay the Ex-Battery Hen, who suffered from Caged Layer Fatigue, during the final six months of her life. Following Kay’s death, Doris became the enduring companion of Sequoia the Disabled Turkey Tom. Doris never left Sequoia’s side. It was common for Doris to find comfort and protection under Sequoia’s wings. Doris watched her good friend pass away peacefully earlier this year.

It was not long before another special bird came along to team up Doris. In mid-June, Vanessa, who suffers from splay leg, arrived at Harvest Home. Once again, Doris immediately stepped in to welcome a needy bird to her new home.

Doris’ gift of friendship is limitless. Nobody measures up better than Doris to the Apocrypha quote: “A faithful friend is the medicine of life.”

Linus, a charming one-eared bunny, is the newest rescue at Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary. This four-month-old English Spot embarked on an eventful journey during his early life. He was originally dumped at Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA during the summer of 2010. Volunteers at the SPCA were told Linus was projected to become a “feeder bunny” for a pet snake. Fortunately, he escaped this dreadful endpoint. It’s yet to be determined why Linus has only one ear. Without a doubt, Linus is ready to find a loving, dependable family to call his own. To learn more about Linus, email enews@harvesthomeanimal.org.