» Rescue Stories

Charlie

Charlie is the perfect example of why Sara’s Sanctuary was created and what we strive to achieve with all the animals that find their way to our door.  With patience, persistence and a lot of love, almost every one of them can have a very happy story, too!

Charlie came to us from a wonderful, caring rescuer in California who had been trying to raise him in his kitchen for over a year. Although, he obviously loved this crow, he knew Charlie needed more specialized care than he would be able to provide. So, he brought him to here to our Sanctuary.  Charlie had no tail or wing feathers. We called him “Bumble Bee” because he and would fly straight up and drop back down, he couldn’t balance himself upright on a perch.  We needed to build a cage that would help to keep him from continually falling on his back. We added different sized ladders for him to learn to balance himself and to eventually be able to walk down onto the grass when he was strong enough and finally conquered his fear of open spaces.  (more…)

Bob and Al

Bob was rescued from a padlocked 8′ x 10′ cage in which he had lived for fourteen years. He had never been outside that cage in all those years. When he was rescued, he was deep in his own feces. His body was plastered with dried feces, he had open sores on his belly, edema  in his legs, and a respiratory infection. He could hardly stand and was literally at death’s door.

Bob was taken from an horrific environment. A local independent zoo veterinarian, who examined Bob, held out little hope for his survival. This veterinarian thought Bob would not regain the use of his legs and advised us to put him down. This was not an option;  he deserved our best effort to get him walking. We dedicated many hours to his rehabilitation. Against all odds, Bob survived. Not only did he survive, he is now thriving.

We believed that Bob should be given that chance in life to feel grass under his feet.  Bob  fully recovered and has been thiving on acres of open ground, like any normal emu should be. It took many months of rehabililiation to get him what he deserved. Bob is very old now, past his life expentency. But every day that Bob is with us, we feel so very lucky to have given him this opporunity to thrive in love, peace and freedom from being caged. 

Happily, Sara’s Sanctuary has become Bob’s forever home. Consider sponsoring Bob, knowing that you are helping a wonderful animal live his life in a natural, comfortable and caring environment.