Lotto, Sunset Boulevard - L.A (USA) (original) (2024) Painting by Elodie M. Richard

“My name is Jenna, and I am the founder of Moose's Flock Pigeon & Dove Rescue. The bird in the video is Lotto, who is currently in my care. Lotto was found hanging upside down from a sign on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles. His feet were entangled in string (stringfoot) and the string became caught on the sign post. Fellow rescuer Jennifer M happened to be walking by and would not leave until she found someone to cut Lotto down. The fire department wouldn't come for "just a pigeon", and neither would tree trimmers because he was hanging over the busy street. Eventually she found SMART Animal Rescue Team, a division of LA Animal Services. They came immediately and rescued Lotto, free of charge. By that time he had been struggling for more than 3 hrs and was physically exhausted. The metal on the sign had cut through Lotto's leg muscles and made score marks into his shin bones.

Over the next 3 months Lotto healed, with the exception of one leg which continues to give him issues. He learned to move around and began showing us his fiesty character and will to live. Lotto is now under the care of veterinary avian specialist Dr. Athena Gianopoulos, and we are making significant progress in rehabilitating his leg. Despite deep discounts graciously provided by Dr. G (and for which I am extremely grateful), getting Lotto back on both feet is a significant expense that will also result in a need for lifelong veterinary care.
Lotto has already survived physical and emotional trauma, not to mention beating the odds by being noticed and rescued at all. My wish is to be able to give him every chance at a full life in my sanctuary aviary (he will not be releasable back into the wild). Even though he is "just a pigeon" to many, to me he is a being that deserves all the care and help we would provide a beloved dog or expensive parrot. His life is just as important to him as any of ours is to us.”

Location : Oceanside, CA (USA)

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Calltopigeons2024ElodiemrichardartLimitedseriesartprintsOriginalartEndspeciecism