by Zoe Hanrahan

The Lake Anna area is home to at least two incredible programs dedicated to the well-being of our feathered and furry companions: Project Perry and Hooves and Paws Animal Rescue.

Parrots might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the Lake Anna community. However, Project Perry, located in Louisa, is a sanctuary providing care to parrots and other birds. Meanwhile, Hooves and Paws Animal Rescue provides shelter for dogs, cats, and various farm animals including horses, donkeys, pigs, alpacas, sheep, rabbits, and cattle.

Founded in 2005, Project Perry is a nonprofit organization that currently houses 230 birds consisting of Conures, African Greys, Macaws, Amazons, and more. These birds come from across the country, traveling from as far away as Texas, New Jersey, and – even recently – Puerto Rico.

“The majority of our parrots are from neglect and abuse. Some are even wild-caught from outside of the USA for breeding purposes, which was outlawed in 1992, I believe,” said Kirah Swanson, co-director and outreach coordinator for Project Perry. “Other birds are here on our now-closed Lifetime of Care Program. Their owners are financially obligated to support their bird here for the duration of its life with us here at the sanctuary.”

Hooves and Paw Animal Rescue, which recently relocated from California to Louisa, was founded in 2002. This volunteer-based nonprofit serves as a home for between 80 and 100 animals. However, their numbers fluctuate depending on the types of animals they have, the types of rescues they are doing, and the amount of resources they have available.

“Most commonly, we take animals from animal control shelters, from hoarding and cruelty cases, and from owner surrenders,” explained Michele Padilla, president and co-founder of Hooves and Paws. “Most of the animals we take in fall under homeless and unwanted, but because we have a sanctuary and the resources to take on the more difficult cases, we also take in a large number of abused animals.”

However, being rescued is not the end of these animals’ stories. The two nonprofits require continued support to ensure the animals that call these sanctuaries home live full and happy lives. Both organizations offer opportunities for community members to be involved if they are interested in assisting them with their missions.

Project Perry offers a sponsorship program that allows individuals to support a bird of their choice within the sanctuary. The sponsorship rates vary depending on the type of parrot chosen. Costs range from $60 annually or $5 per month for a parakeet to $780 annually or $65 per month for a macaw. Swanson said the amount varies because “the bigger the parrot, the more it costs to feed them, house them with more durable supplies, etc.”

Sponsors receive a sponsorship certificate and have their names posted online alongside their sponsored bird. They also can request a photo and have the opportunity to meet their sponsored bird in person. While the task of picking a single bird to sponsor may seem daunting, Swanson said that “it’s all about people visiting our webpage and finding a bird with a story that touches them.”

Swanson mentioned that three of her favorite birds are Rexermes, Scarlet, and Junipyr.

The sanctuary is Junipyr’s fourth home, and he was surrendered to Project Perry because his owner no longer had the time to care for him. Rexermes, who is 26 years old and has suffered from abuse, found his permanent home with Project Perry after living in seven other places. Meanwhile, Scarlet – an African Grey Parrot – has a much happier story and is part of the sanctuary’s former lifetime care program. Swanson describes Scarlet as “a character.”

For those who are interested in helping but unable to commit to sponsorship, there are several other ways to contribute to Project Perry and the birds that call the sanctuary home. Interested individuals can make a one-time donation or send a care package. They can also sign up to volunteer on Project Perry’s website. Volunteers help prepare food for the birds or assist with cleaning the cages, flighted rooms, or food preparation areas.

As for assisting with Hooves and Paws Animal Rescue, Padilla said there are numerous needs. “There are a number of ways to support our rescue, and I think they all are important,” she explained. “Monetary donations help a lot, especially with animal food and veterinary bills. We also love receiving donated items such as blankets, towels, supplies, treats, and toys. And, of course, donating time through volunteering is a huge help. We also appreciate when people comment and share our social media posts. And we love when people foster and adopt animals, because it provides room for us to rescue more animals.”

Volunteers at Hooves and Paws clean pens, groom and exercise animals, and help with marketing and fundraising needs.

Padilla called attention to two dogs, Kennedy and Gerald, who are available for adoption or fostering. They are a bonded pair and cannot be separated. “They are also both blind and depend on each other for companionship and security,” she said. “Gerald was born blind, and Kennedy became blind from glaucoma.” 

“Because of their health issues, they have needed quite a bit of veterinary care and have both seen a veterinary ophthalmologist,” she continued. “They are healthy and ready for their new homes. Kennedy and Gerald are so sweet and love attention. And even though they are blind, they love to go on walks to explore. We would be so grateful to find an adopter, foster, or sponsor for these two amazing pups.”

Outside of dog adoptions, they offer a small number of cat and goat adoptions, but they hope to expand their adoption program in the future. For now, if someone is interested in adopting a dog, the process involves an application, a meet-and-greet, and an adoption fee of $150 for most dogs, $100 for senior dogs, and a flexible rate for special needs dogs. They also encourage interested parties to bring any dogs they currently have to ensure everyone gets along.

Like Project Perry, more information about helping with Hooves and Paws Animal Rescue can be found on their website.
Unfortunately, both the rescue and the sanctuary have faced their fair share of challenges. In the past, Project Perry has encountered problems related to its sponsorship program. Swanson stated that some donors signed up for a sponsorship only as a means to visit the sanctuary.

“The world is full of dishonest people who would provide their first month’s sponsorship, take four-plus hours out of our day to visit the sanctuary, then cancel their sponsorship,” Swanson recalled. “We hope that when someone takes on a sponsorship, they take it seriously. We do understand that people fall on hard times and need to cancel their monthly or annual sponsorship, which is technically a donation.”

Because of these actions, sponsors who want to visit must now pay 3-12 months of sponsorship fees, or $60, before scheduling a visit.

Staff shortages also limit the sanctuary’s capabilities. Due to this, public tours are unavailable for the foreseeable future, and Project Perry is currently only accepting rescue cases. “People think that working here is ‘fun with the birdies.’  It’s not,” Swanson explained. “It’s bites, getting pooped on, going temporarily deaf, and getting down and dirty. It’s also getting a hole or two (or three) in your favorite shirt if you’re not careful.”

Hooves and Paws Animal Rescue also faces the problem of being unable to provide aid for every animal that needs their assistance.

“Our biggest challenge is not being able to help every animal who needs us,” Padilla emphasized. “There is a nationwide crisis for animals, and all rescues and shelters are overwhelmed. We work long hours every single day, and we are always stretching ourselves to do more. We do the best we can to save as many animals as possible, but it breaks our hearts knowing that there are many animals who will never receive the second chance they deserve.” 

Despite the challenges faced by these programs, serving with them can be highly rewarding.

When asked what she loves best about working for Project Perry, Swanson said, “My life has meaning. I can relate to many of these abused birds due to the challenges I’ve faced in life. I have always loved birds. There is something magical about them. I love that so many have given me their trust after years of abuse or neglect.”

Pallida said her favorite thing about working at Hooves and Paws is seeing the transformations in the animals.

“We rescue a lot of animals who have been abused and neglected. We see some heartbreaking cases, even dogs who have been burned and shot. But working with animals is powerful because they are so resilient,” she explained. “The same animals who have every right not to trust people are the ones who live and love with the most enthusiasm. I learn a lot from the animals, and spending every day with them brings me so much joy.”