Ok, I just got off the phone with Kim, who is in charge of everything having to do with the rescue of the birds in Troy, OH.
I have a lot of information to give you but I want to start at the beginning. First of all there are many people who are complaining about the Miami bird club not doing anything and giving them a hard time. Stop it. They only formed the club in January and have gone over and above what any club has ever done, except for a few who have experience with rescues, but none of this proportion and horror. They are in a steep learning curve and are learning quickly. Kim said that she will know all the animal laws by the time this is over and will set out to change them for the better. Kim asks for your prayers... and a little money. I added that last part.
Kim also said that THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. She stated that Troy is a BIG animal loving community and as this horrific story spreads and the media becomes involved by printing it as well as doing videos, laws will be changed because the people of Troy won't put up with no protection for animals. One guy last week had his horses taken away because they were dying and the next day, the judge gave them back, yesterday they died. Things will change, but they need to get through this first in order to get the birds out. That is the Prime Directive. Getting the birds out. They will get out, because this is not going to go away. So please cut them a lot of slack. They are on top of it every minute, doing what is possible under the current circumstances. Really.
Kim asks that no one do anything stupid in case you were considering doing something other than picket the house which is next door to 2063 W. Ohio 55. If you want to picket stand only in the gravel. Do not set foot on this guy's property or you may be arrested and make things worse for everyone. This is a criminal investigation and we must tread lightly.
Kim and the other members of the club are working on this constantly, but every time they make a turn there's another road block, another "You can't do that." The municipal prosecutor is Lenee Brosh. THIS IS WHERE WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. If her office is swamped with calls she will be forced to prosecute Ratcliff, the abuser. Right now, she isn't doing anything. Her office number is Telephone: 937-440-3928 This is critical, she has to prosecute the perp and release the birds. Call and tell her this is a criminal offense and Ratcliff must be arrested. I have always said it takes a grassroots effort to make changes. We are that effort.
About the birds: The humane officer who hasn't let Kim remove the remaining birds, is the one person who is going in every day to feed and water them. She is a volunteer, not even a county employee and she is taking care of them. She is apparently not the enemy. The birds that were the most ill have been removed, are in treatment and will go to sanctuaries when they recover. The birds that remain in the house are doing ok. The group hopes... hope being the operative word here, to have them out this week. The Avian Welfare Coalition, with an attorney, is on the way there as I type this.
However, the best thing any of us can do is to donate. There are going to be big medical bills and there is just no money. Kim asks that your gracious donation go directly to her email addy via Pay Pal. kseitz63@frontier.com Please use just this one address. Any amount is gladly welcome. If you want to do a little fund raiser with your club or on your own please feel free to do so. Desperate times require desperate measures.
So... the birds are being fed and watered. The sick are out of harms way. The club is doing everything humanly possible. The prosecutor must be called and told to arrest Ratcliff. That is equally important as the donations. Please make the call tomorrow and donate or do a fund raiser if you feel moved to do so.
