 |
Angel Wings
A monthly journal for human angels who make a positive difference in companion birds' lives. August 2006
Volume 1, Issue III |
|
|
|
Happy August, Parrot Toy Angel Supporters!
And Happy 1st Anniversary Angels!!
First off, a very warm welcome to our two newest angels, Joyce R. and Pat H.! And two of our "Junior Angels" have now been promoted to "Senior Angels", Cody S. and Kevin S. Congrats guys, well deserved promotion!
July was another very busy month for PTA. We were granted 501c3 Non Profit Status by the IRS. This is fantastic news!
The angels were able to surprise a very special lady, Judy K. during July. Her birds thoroughly enjoyed Christmas in July. We'll have pictures up on the website soon.
Speaking of our website, it's been revamped and is much more user-friendly. Take a peak when you have a chance. We've also teamed up with GoodSearch and will earn a penny everytime their searchbar is used, specifying the charity you'd like to support is Parrot Toy Angels. Won't you think about using it for your Internet searches? Pennies turn into dollars quickly!
The angels are busy working their talons to the bone for The Gabriel Foundation delivery. Needless to say, there's going to be some very happy birdies there! We have three lucky angels able to attend.
Before I close I'd like to congratulate the lucky winner of our Summer Raffle, Joanne Smith and thank all those that purchased raffle tickets. As always, your support is much appreciated.
- Lynn Williams
|
Angel Toys For Angels
We now offer 'Angel Toys' for sale to the public. We have all sorts of shapes and sizes of quality toys at great prices. This month's featured toys:
Chicken Little
for Medium to Large Birds
Mumblypeg
for Large Birds
Lego Toy
for Small to Medium Birds
Check out all the Angel Toys for Angels now!
|
|
Safe and Sound: Caring for Your Parrot's Playthings
By Damian & Gina Haase
Like all intelligent animals, play is part of a parrot's natural behavior. Chewing is another. Since it's only natural for parrots to chew on their playthings, we give them colorful, inviting toys to bully, romance, disassemble and ultimately chew to bits.
Well-loved toys require upkeep. Any toy can become dangerous with normal parrot use, so look for worn or frayed parts, heavily chewed areas, or anything in which a foot, leg or head can get caught. Always discard toys that are reduced to a few parts or beyond practical repair; periodically rotating your parrot's toys is an easy, practical way to monitor and maintain favorites.
The frayed leather on this toy should be replaced.
For more maintenance tips, see the "Checklist for Parrot Toy Upkeep" sidebar.
Prevention is the key to safety, and knowing your parrot's playing style is the best way to avoid accidents. Toys that are destroyed too quickly cannot be monitored safely, so choose designs that are the right size and style for your parrot. Watch to see if a larger or smaller-sized version is needed, or if particular plaything should be for supervised play only.
Although uncommon, some birds have been known to swallow bits of toys. Natural or synthetic, any non-food item is dangerous if swallowed, so if you suspect that your bird is ingesting non-food items, please see your trusted veterinarian immediately.
A parrot's role is to explore, enjoy and destroy their toys. Parrots don't care about safety, so it's up to us bird owners to ensure that, through regular monitoring and maintenance, their playthings are as safe as they are fun. ♥
© Think Beak LLC. Reprinted with permission. To reprint all or part of this article, please contact the authors at info@thinkbeak.com.
|
Indulge your macaw, grey or other species that needs a little higher fat intake with Sweet Treat by ParrotNutz, a naturally sweet mash-style treat featuring a healthy blend of apples, bananas, nuts and grains.
Try some Sweet Treat today!
|
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 20 - The Gabriel Foundation Angel Delivery
ON OUR SITE...
Stainless Steel Toys
Onward Angels
PTA T-shirts
Glass Block Lights
Birdie Bears
Bailey Foundation Photos
Birdie Shower Photos
|
ANGEL NEWS
We are very pleased to announce that Parrot Toy Angels has obtained 501c3 Non-Profit Status.
Currently, we have 54 members throughout the USA, Canada & Australia and we also have 8 'Junior Angels' and 2 'Senior Angels' in our ranks.
We've sent out over 2,390 toys to 32 projects since our inception on August 6, 2005.
Our Summer Raffle was great success. Drawing was held July 14th and the lucky winner was Joanne Smith of Connecticut. Thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket! A big thank you to CJ of CJ's Exotic Bird Supplies for her generous donation of 2 $50 gift certificates and a Surprise Box.
|
Checklist for Parrot Toy Upkeep
Here are some tips for your toy maintenance checklist:
♥ Check playthings for gnawing damage, especially where the hanger attaches - many parrots love to work on this part first.
♥ Remove or replace broken, frayed, or heavily chewed parts.
♥ Knot, trim and shorten rope and leather as they become exposed.
♥ Snip off loose threads on fabric and rope.
♥ Clean your parrot's toys regularly.
Be on the lookout for these common toy hazards:
♥ Some birds like to pull the clappers out of liberty bells, leaving a sharp hook that could catch a toe or beak.
♥ Unraveling fabric toys or cotton rope can pose a serious entanglement risk in unsupervised situations: feet and toes can become entangled in frayed parts.
♥ Links or rings large enough to slip over a bird's head can be extremely dangerous.
♥ Long, bottom-heavy toys that look like a yo-yo can form a noose or wrap around a body part.
|
An Angel Amongst Us
Parrot Toy Angels come in all shapes and sizes, and from all walks of life. Let us introduce you to one of our Angels...
Angel Toymaker Suzanne
Psychologist, Jewelry Designer • NJ, USA
Growing up in a family where knitting, tatting, needlepoint and similar activities were the norm set the stage for me to become a handcrafter. Over the years I have learned many different crafts, with much of my effort devoted to elaborate beaded ornaments. It was a small stretch from ornaments to jewelry-making, and this has evolved in Bijou Jewelry Design, named after a wonderful peach-fronted conure who shared his life with me for 10 years.
Playing with colors and tones helps me center myself after a day of seeing clients. I use those same skills to make toys for my flock, and I'm thrilled to be able to contribute toys to help needy parrots. I feel fortunate to be part of this wonderful group of people.
Has this story got your toymaking talons twitching? Do you want to help make a difference in somebirdie's life? Come join our ranks! We have angels from all different backgrounds and walks of life, and there's always room for another generous heart.
As a Parrot Toy Angel, you will be asked to contribute on a monthly basis to help support our ongoing work. Apply for membership:
Join our Yahoo! Group
|
Help Us Help the Birds... Our Angels generously donate their time making toys for our needy feathered friends. Quality toy-making supplies are expensive and shipping charges are outrageous. That's why we need your support to help keep us going. Every dollar amount, large or small, is gratefully accepted. Donations are tax deductible.
We also welcome donations of toymaking parts and supplies. A receipt will be issued for every donation. Contact us at info@parrottoyangels.org for further information on donating.
|
>>C O U P O N<<
10% off any item on the
Parrot Toy Angels site
Coupon expires
9/05/06
Offer not valid
for purchases made by Angels
|
We'd love to hear from you...
Do you have a question or comment? Perhaps you have an idea for our newsletter, or simply want to share a story on how an Angel has touched your life. Drop us a line at:
editor@parrottoyangels.org
Unsubscribing:
We'd hate to see you go, but if you'd like to be removed from the mailing list, please send an email to:
editor@parrottoyangels.org
|
|
|
© 2006 Parrot Toy Angels P.O. Box 34372 Houston, Texas 77234 (281) 991-9467 www.parrottoyangels.com
|