Vivian the Vulture, blessed be

[Kiwi]

As a few of you may know I, and my family of course, had a vulture that lived with us. She was injured as a chick so badly she could never fly. She was a regular old 'turkey vultur' like you see eating road kill on the highways but was beutiful to me and grew on Sara and the kiddo. She was very smart. Learned lots of ways to help herself to food, escape from her eclosure in the house, learned how to use a dog door to go out side and even learned her name. She never tried to hurt any of us and was very protective of us. She loved to play with the dog too.

About 2 weeks ago I came home from work, Sara and the kiddo were out, and as usual Viv had let herself out of her cage and out the doggy door but when I went out there I found her laying listless on the ground bleeding. I rushed her to my vet and she pulled out over 30 bb's and found contusions and fractured bones. For two weeks we fought infection and stress but to no avail. Vivian passed away this morning.

The good news is that we found the little buggers who are responsible. Three 15 year olds, our neighborhood bullies and vandals, admitted to climbing our 8ft fence, surrounding her, shooting her and beating her 'because they were bored'. I am going to press charges for killing my beloved family member, trespassing, and property damage. I am sure they will get off with a small fine but at least I can give them a stone cold glare in court.

I wish I had some pics of her to share with you all. She was a beutiful bird, if you can get over the fact she was a vulture, lol. The house seems so empty without her scrambleing through it .

[rsine69]

Kiwi I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to your beloved pet Vivian. What these a******s did was INEXCUSEBLE!!!!! I can't even describe the anger I'm feeling right now for those little pieces of walking s**ts!!!!!! It never surprises me how sick, cruel and inhuman some people can be but I'm sure their behavor can be traced back to the way their parents are bringing them up. I was brought up with critters all my life mainly cats which is why I'm such a cat person and I was brought up to NEVER be cruel to animals so yes, I put the blame on their parents.

[Rejean]

I'm really sorry to hear about your bird. Especially the horrible way she died. I understand that most pyscopaths and other scumbags usually have a record of animal abuse as kids...May be a case for making the parents pay witgh thor time and freedom; they could spend time inside with their offspring and may they all destroy each other.
In my part of the world we currently have someone going around butchering cats (in addition to the little darlings who cause mayhem in local petting zoos and farms). Most of this could be due to light sentence for such crimes, (and our ridiculous Young Offenders Act sure has something to do with all types of juvenila anti-social behaviour). We now have an outcry for tougher laws aginst cruelty to animals, and I'm hoping the politicians take notice, and theythey go through with these changes, because this stuff makes me sick just to hear about.
Yeah, I feel for you, Kiwi, and your family for the loss of a precious pet.

[Phalon]

How very sad, Kiwi. It's tough enough to lose a pet, but to lose one in such a senseless, vicious way must be extremely hard to bear. I can only imagine the anger and frustration you are feeling.

I would hope the those who committed such a heinous act would receive a stiffer punishment than just a slap on the wrist and a small fine.

Oh, and btw, we have turkey buzzards that fly over the fields at work every day. I've never seen one up close, but marvel at how beautiful they are in flight, gracefully gliding in the wind. It's a shame you were never able to see Vivian soar.

[Scrappy Amazon]

I’m sorry Kiwi, for your loss. As a fellow animal lover I know how hard it is to loose a member of your family like that. Be they four legged or winged. If you feel like these little sickos aren’t getting what they deserve try contacting the Humane society. I don’t know how it is in your state but mine has a special task force to prevent and prosecute perpetrators of animal abuse. They have their own lawyers and may be able to get these boys to pay a more severe and lesson learning price for their stupid and cruel behavior.

P.S. My earlier PM question was sent before I read this……I apologize for the coincidence.

[Gabbin]

Oh, that just clinches my day of cruel people. That is so sad. We have many turkey vultures around here. Pretty amazing birds. You know what they say about children who hurt animals......

Sad sad sad.

[Lesa]

{{{{{Kiwi}}}}} I'm sorry for your loss.   It pi**es me off to hear what they did to that poor defenseless bird.

I'm sure you already know this with your experience, but not only does this behavior often escalate to harming humans, but sometimes the perpetrator him/herself is a victim of child abuse. If you think this is a possibility, maybe you should report the parents for suspected child abuse. If it turns out to be true in one or more of their cases, you could be saving them from future abuse. If it turns out to be false, then maybe the trouble of proving their innocence will prompt the parents to teach their children better morals.

I forgot what state you live in. Isn't it West Virginia? Animal cruelty is a felony in many states for adults, although I haven't found much information on juvenile offenses yet. If I could only remember which state you live in.

Some states do require violent offenses to be reported to the juvenile's school, and I hope they would consider this a violent offense.

If there's anything I can do, you let me know.

[lucystar]

Kiwi, I am so very sorry to hear about your loss. The death of a beloved pet (most often considered a member of the family) can be as painful as losing a "human" family member. I know having had to grieve the death of one of my kitties that had been my "baby" for 19 years. Fortunately, it was old age that claimed his life, not the cruelty of humankind.

When I hear of such cruelty to animals by a person or persons, I wish that the same cruelty be inflicted on them. The old "eye for any eye, a tooth for a tooth" idea. I hope your state has instigated the tougher "cruelty to animals" laws that many states are now implementing.

I wish you the best of luck in bringing these cruel people to justice. At 15, they are not little children. They know right from wrong and should be punished severly for the great wrong they committed against Vivian and you and your family. I encourage you to contact the Humane Society for their help.

LS

[dixielandyankee]

Kiwi, the story of Vivian moved me to tears...I can't imagine what brings people of any age to the stage where they could lay a hand on a defenseless animal in such a way. Who are these little b******s raised by? I can't tell you what would have happened to me if I'd even considered pulling our cats tail as a small child...my mother would have smacked me upside the head I can tell you!

Despite her injury as a chick you can bet that she's flying high right now, god rest her. I hope you can get over the loss and always remember her with the love you clearly showed her when she was with you.

love to you
dixie

[Kiwi]

Thanks to everyone for your careing posts. The boys got a years probation(since this was not the first time they had faced this certain judge) and mandatory psychiatric evaluation and care. A very light sentence. I was hopeing for at least a bit more but at least the court recognised the boys have a problem.

Vivians cage is filled with life once more. A baby owl (looks like a great horned probably) who was brought to a local educational center with only one wing. It was not an injury but a birth defect and momma pushed it out of the nest. Luckily someone found it. They got my name off a local raptor rehabbers list and called me to see if I was interested in keeping it since I am one of the few people who actually has a permit to keep them as a pet. He, or she, is just a tiney bundle of white and grey down at the moment. It is only 7-10 days old but it is doing well and eating like a champ. Nothing like haveing to wake up every hour all night to feed an owl and takeing it to work with me each day (don't tell corporate Scrappy, lol). Well, speaking of feeding, its time to feed the baby and make dinner for the family. They should be getting back from shopping soon. Too bad someone had to stay behind to feed the owl .

-Kiwi

[Phalon]

What a hoot, Kiwi. A baby owl - wow. What does a baby owl eat during all these feedings? Hamburger? Mouseburger? I suppose you have to be careful of his sharp beak and talons. Wouldn't be wise to get to close, I suppose. Owlch!

I'm surprised the culprits did not get a stiffer sentence. I figured since they were repeat offenders, they'd come away with more then what amounts to basically a warning. Sad. I hope it works. <shakes head> Doubtful.

[Scrappy Amazon]

Corporate who (whoo whoo)? What owl? I have no idea what you are talking about.

Was going to say what a hoot but Phalon beaked me to it. Sorry to see those little Rat B@stards didn't get more time.

[dixielandyankee]

Hurrah for the baby owl

Boo to the judge who didn't give those little b******s more punishment. After all, how much difference can there be between the desire to torture and maim a defenceless bird and doing the same to a small child?? Allowed to get away with so little punishment seem a small deterrent from doing it again, or doing something worse.

Hope you have lots of happiness with your new arrival.
dixie

[Lesa]

I agree, the sentence is not strong enough, and I doubt it will keep them from harming another animal or human in the future.  Any idea what will happen if they break their probation or what extent of psychiatric treatment they're getting?

It sounds like you've really got your hands full with the baby owl.  How long will it be before you can just put food in its cage just once or twice a day?

[Kiwi]

If the deliquents don't show up for one of thier twice weekly therapy sessions they will be tossed in Juvinile detention for the remainder of thier probation. It is the same is they get caught break ANY law during the probation period.

As far as what the little hooter eats: skinned and cut up vitamin dusted mice . Mmmm yummy:P. The feedings will geet wider apart gradually over the course of several weeks, according to rate he/she gains weight, untill it becomes a twice a day affair of tossing two or three thawed out whole mice to it twice a day. It could take up to 3 months to get to that point .

The little guy/girl is very gentle and doesn't even scratch with it's talons. I will probably just have to keep the trimmed to prevent accidental injury to Sara or the kiddo. Its really not nearly as playfull of a bird as Viv was but vultures are generaly more on the playfull side of the raptor family. So far this little hooter just perches and stares. It did screech last night and scared the heckaroonies out of Sara and I as we were watching a movie in the living room,lol. I think it will warm up to us.

-kiwi

[dixielandyankee]

When will you know if its a boy or a girl? and do you have any names in mind either way?

dixie

[Lesa]

I hope those kids skip a session and get thrown in the clinker.   Of course, if those twice weekly sessions helped them come around and they actually start to feel guilt over what they have done, then that would be the best punishment, imo, but I think it would take some very good psychologists and a miracle for that to happen.

Do you have to skin those mice yourself, or do they come pre-skinned?

[Tegal]

I'm very sorry for your lose, its a shame kids these days dosne't know better.
I myself are a big cat lover, i grew up with a cat named Hugo, he was the best. Unfortuanly he passed away at 12 years old due to diabetes, it was a shock to me and my mom, since we weren't prepared for it, we just though he had eaten something bad, and when the vet told us the news and we had to put him to sleep, i was devestated.
The thing i know though, is that life goes on, and you will get over it, but there will always be times when you remember, and cry alittle tear, but that's just good.
After a year we got another kitten, a girl name Yuffie, she is cuteness itself, but alittle shy, she is 4 years old today, but since i moved 1 year ago, i only see her a couple times a month, but she is doing fine. ^_^